A convenient and efficient synthesis of (2S,4R)- and (2S,4S)-4-methylglutamic acid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1997-1274

Both enantiomerically pure (2S,4S)- and (2S,4R)-4-methylglutamic acids have been prepared in an overall 60% yield, by a convenient 7-step synthesis based on C-4 alkylation/epimerization of readily available (S)-pyroglutamic acid.