Passerini multicomponent reaction of protected α-aminoaldehydes as a tool for combinatorial synthesis of enzyme inhibitors

Three-component Passerini condensation of N-Boc-α-aminoaldehydes with various isocyanides and carboxylic acids leads, after Boc-deprotection/transacylation, to complex peptide-like structures containing an α-hydroxy-β-aminoacid unit or, after oxidation, an α-oxo-β-aminoacid unit.