Synthesis 1994; 1994(7): 733-738
DOI: 10.1055/s-1994-25559
feature article
© Georg Thieme Verlag, Rüdigerstr. 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany. All rights reserved. This journal, including all individual contributions and illustrations published therein, is legally protected by copyright for the duration of the copyright period. Any use, exploitation or commercialization outside the narrow limits set by copyright legislation, without the publisher's consent, is illegal and liable to criminal prosecution. This applies in particular to photostat reproduction, copying, cyclostyling, mimeographing or duplication of any kind, translating, preparation of microfilms, and electronic data processing and storage.

Stereoselective Synthesis of α,β-Diamino Nitriles from Amino Acids

Manfred T. Reetz* , Marcus Hübel, Ralf Jaeger, Renate Schwickardi, Richard Goddard
  • *Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, D-45470 Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
17 September 2002 (online)

α-Amino acids 1 are readily converted into the corresponding N, N-dibenzylamino aldehydes 2 which in turn serve as starting materials for enantiomerically pure α- N,N-dibenzylamino aldimines 5, 6 and 7 having benzyl, tosyl and trimethylsilyl groups, respectively, at the aldimine nitrogen atom. All three classes of chiral aldimines undergo stereoselective Lewis acid promoted Me3SiCN addition reactions with non-chelation controlled formation of the corresponding α,β-diamino nitriles. All of the reaction sequences occur without any racemization.

    >