Nano-MgO for the Synthesis of α-Sulfanyl-β-amino Acids

Significance

Nanocrystalline magnesium oxide (NAP-MgO) catalyzed the reaction of alicyclic, ­aryl, and vinyl aldimines with sulfonium salts to afford α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives. Thus, for example, the reaction of N-tosyl benzaldimine 1a (1 mmol) and (ethoxycarbonylmethyl)dimethylsulfonium bromide 2A (1.5 mmol) was carried out with NAP-MgO to give β-amino acid 3a in 91% yield (anti/syn = 76:24).