Asymmetric synthesis of L-thienylalanines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(97)00016-5

L-Thienylalanines were prepared via the hydantoin and azlactone routes with the key step consisting of the microbial transamination of 2-hydroxy-3-thienylacrylic with L-aspartic acid as amino donor.The transamination reaction was performed by a genetically engineered E. coli strain on scales up to 100 g of L-3-(2-thienyl)alanine 1a and is also applicable to the preparation of the isomeric amino acid 1b and some ring-substituted derivatives.