A novel synthetic route to N6-methyl-L-lysine and N5-methyl-L-ornithine via N3-protected (S)-3-aminolactams1

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1991-26482

(S)-3-Phthalimido- or (S)-3-tritylaminolactams, prepared from L-lysine and L-ornithine in two or three steps, are easily methylated at the endocyclic nitrogen atom by iodomethane/silver(I) oxide in dimethylformamide. Acid hydrolysis of the N-methylated lactams thus obtained affords N⁶-methyl-L-lysine and N⁵-methyl-L-ornithine hydrochlorides in high yield.