ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF α-AMINO ACIDS BY NONENZYMATIC TRANSAMINATION. VERSATILITY OF THE REACTION AND ENANTIOMERIC EXCESS OF THE PRODUCTS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1982.1765

Diverse α-keto acids were transformed into the corresponding α-amino acids enantiomeric excess ranging from 60 to 96percent by the reaction with chiral pyridoxamine analog, (R)- or (S)-15-aminomethyl-14-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2,8-dithia<9>(2,5)pyridinophane (4), and Zn²⁺ in the molar ratio of 2:1, in methanol.The use of the S enantiomer of 4 gave (R)-α-amino acids, and vice versa.