ENANTIORETENTIVE ALKYLATION OF ACYCLIC AMINO ACIDS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)81432-5

A stereospecific method is described for the alkylation of acyclic amino acids (alanine and phenylalanine) which proceeds with retention of configuration.The method involves a) conversion of the amino acid to the predominantly cis 2-aryl-3-carbobenzyloxy oxazolidinones (2 and 8), b) alkylation of the potassium enolate with CH3I or PhCH2Br, c) base hydrolysis and hydrogenolysis to afford the alkylated amino acid.