Multicomponent diversity and enzymatic enantioselectivity as a route towards both enantiomers of α-amino acids—a model study

Abstract

A model study on a new, enantioconvergent method for the synthesis of chiral, nonracemic α-amino acids is presented. α-Acetoxyamides obtained in a Passerini multicomponent reaction are selectively hydrolyzed by Wheat Germ lipase. Studies on conversion of the thus obtained, enantiomerically enriched α-hydroxyamides into α-aminoamides are presented. Products of these reactions are then hydrolyzed to give α-amino acids.