Diastereoselective Strecker Synthesis of α‐Aminonitriles on Carbohydrate Templates

Enantiomerically pure D-amino acids such as 2, components of numerous microbial products, can be prepared from the (αR)-N-glycosyl-α-aminonitriles 1, which, in turn, are obtainable in 75–90% yield with high diastereomeric excess (87–93% de). The carbohydrate, which is used as a chiral auxiliary, can be recovered to the extent of 70–90% (Piv = Me3CCO).