Enantiospecific and diastereoselective synthesis of syn-β-amino-α-hydroxy acids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(97)00595-8

The reaction of chiral α-hydroxy β,γ-unsaturated esters with tosyl isocyanate followed by cyclization of the resulting allylic carbamates with iodine in the presence of sodium carbonate provided trans-4,5-disubstituted 2-oxazolidinone derivatives in a highly diastereoselective manner. The subsequent removal of the iodo group and the protective functionality afforded the syn-β-amino-α-hydroxy acids. Using the reaction sequence, (2R,3S)- and (2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy acids were synthesized with high enantioselectivity.