Synthesis of Chiral-β-Amino Esters via Titanium Ester Enolates

Significance

Τηε β-amino acid moiety is widely presented in nature and is an integral part of many bio­logically active compounds. New methods of stereoselective synthesis of β-amino acids are therefore quite important. Herein, the authors reported a simple and efficient protocol for the preparation of syn-substituted β-amino acids starting from simple carboxylic esters and aldimines derived from chiral α-methylbenzylamine. This method uses only inexpensive, readily available compounds and offers α-alkyl-β-amino acids, otherwise rather difficult to achieve, with high diastereo­selectivity and in good yields.