Current methods of homologation of α-amino acids to β-amino acids have limitations.
To overcome these shortfalls the Nef reaction has been utilized in the multistep synthesis
of β3-amino acids from α-amino acids. In this approach, N-protected amino aldehydes, easily
accessed from α-amino acids, were transformed into the N-protected γ-amino nitroalkanes.
The Nef reaction was then used to smoothly convert the nitroalkanes into the corresponding
N-protected β3-amino acids without notable racemization.
Key words
amino acids - amino alcohols - amino aldehydes - nucleophilic addition - enantioselectivity