title: Synthesis of optically active 2-alkyl-3,4-iminobutanoic acids. Beta-amino acids containing an aziridine heterocycle.
abstract: All four stereoisomers of 2-alkyl-3,4-iminobutanoic acid, a novel class of beta-amino acids bearing a chemically versatile aziridine ring, were synthesized starting with aspartic acid. The synthetic strategy involves the introduction of an alkyl group at the beta-position of fully protected optically active aspartic acid followed by the construction of an aziridine ring making use of the alpha-carboxylate and alpha-amino groups. The alpha-carboxylate was reduced to the corresponding alcohol, which was then subjected to cyclization to form an aziridine ring with the N-protected amino group. Removal of the protection groups yielded the target compounds.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biofunctional Molecules and Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San 31 Hyoja-dong, Pohang 790-784, Korea.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim