Cyclopeptoids as Phase‐Transfer Catalysts for the Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Amino Acids

Abstract

AbstractThe first application of cyclopeptoids in asymmetric phase‐transfer catalysis was examined. A small library of nine alternating N‐substituted‐glycine and proline hexacyclopeptoids was tested in the enantioselective alkylation of N‐(diphenylmethylene)glycine tert‐butyl ester. The presence of an N‐arylmethyl side chain in the catalyst was found to be crucial for the synthesis of α‐amino acids with up to 73 % ee.