Enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids from N-tosyloxy β-lactams derived from β-keto esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo0162437

A novel synthetic sequence has been developed to convert simple β-keto esters into enantiomerically enriched α-amino acids. The key features of this sequence include the addition of azide to the C3 position of β-keto ester derived N-tosyloxy-β-lactams through a concomitant nucleophilic addition/N-O bond reduction reaction, a mild CsF-induced N1 benzylation of α-azido monocyclic β-lactams, the preparation of α-keto-β-lactams through a novel four-step sequence from the corresponding 3-azido-1-benzyl-β-lactams, and TEMPO-mediated ring expansion of these compounds to the corresponding N-carboxy anhydrides (NCAs). In addition, the synthesis, isolation, and characterization of unusual 3-imino and 3-chloramino-β-lactams is reported.