Synthesis of Enantiopure ω-Functionalized C15 α-Amino Carboxylates

An efficient route for the synthesis of enantiopure omega-hydroxy, omega-carboxy, omega-oxo, and omega-amino alpha-amino acids and bis-alpha-amino acids was developed. The synthesis of omega-trityloxy delta,epsilon-unsaturated alpha-amino acids was based on the Wittig reaction of methyl (2S)-2-[bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-5-oxopentanoate with omega-trityloxy alkylidene triphenylphosphoranes. After hydrogenation, the omega-hydroxy alpha-amino acid was used as starting material for the synthesis of other omega-functionalized alpha-amino acids. The length of the side chain of alpha-amino acids or bis-alpha-amino acids depends on the starting alkanediol or dibromide used to prepare the phosphoranes.