Amino Acid Based Synthesis of Chiral Long Chain Diamines and Tetramines

A method for the synthesis of long chain diamines and tetramines starting from natural α-amino acids is reported. Diamines and tetramines were prepared through the Wittig olefination reaction of N-protected amino aldehydes obtained from phenylalanine and lysine. A 1,2,17,18-tetramine was synthesized using (2S)-1-azido-2-bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-amino-5-oxopentane as key-intermediate compound.