ISSN:
0018-019X
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Organic Chemistry
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Enantiomerically pure cis- and trans-5-alkyl-1-benzoyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methylimidazolidin-4-ones (1, 2, 11, 15, 16) and trans-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-5-phenylimidazolidin-4-one (20), readily available from (S)-alanine, (S)-valine, (S)-methionine, and (R)-phenylglycine are deprotonated to chiral enolates (cf. 3, 4, 12, 21). Diastereoselective alkylation of these enolates to 5,5-dialkyl- or 5-alkyl-5-arylimidazolidinones (5, 6, 9, 10, 13a-d, 17, 18, 22) and hydrolysis give α-alkyl-α-amino acids such as (R)- and (S)-α-methyldopa (7 and 8a, resp.), (S)-α-methylvaline (14), and (R)-α-methyl-methionine (19). The configuration of the products is proved by chemical correlation and by NOE 1H-NMR measurements (see 23, 24). In the overall process, a simple, enantiomerically pure α-amino acid can be α-alkylated with retention or with inversion of configuration through pivaladehyde acetal derivatives. Since no chiral auxiliary is required, the process is coined ‘self-reproduction of a center of chirality’. The method is compared with other α-alkylations of amino acids occurring without racemization. The importance of enantiomerically pure, α-branched α-amino acids as synthetic intermediates and for the preparation of biologically active compounds is discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19850680118
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