Synthesis of α-amino acids by addition of putative azido radicals to α-methoxy acrylonitriles derived from aldehydes and ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)77143-7

α-Methoxy acrylonitriles, available from aldehydes and ketones, react with sodium azide in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate to give azido nitrates; from these compounds, α-amino acids are obtained by sequential treatment with sodium acetate in acetic acid and then methanolic potassium carbonate, followed by hydrogenation.