10.1016/j.tetlet.2009.01.062
The research aims to develop a synthetic route for these specific isotopically labeled glutamic acids with high enantioselectivity for metabolic analysis. The study employs key chemicals such as [2-13C] glycine, β-alanine, lithium aluminum deuteride (LiAlD4), and the (S,S)-Et-DuPHOS-Rh catalyst. The synthesis involves the preparation of a stable isotope-labeled dehydroornithine derivative through the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction, followed by asymmetric hydrogenation or deuteration using the (S,S)-Et-DuPHOS-Rh catalyst. Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation is then used to convert the intermediate to the target glutamic acids. The enantiopurity of the final products is confirmed to be 99% ee by HPLC analysis. The research concludes that the asymmetric synthesis of (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-[2-13C;3-2H] glutamic acids has been successfully achieved with high enantioselectivity, and modifications to this procedure for synthesizing other labeled amino acids are underway.