Pictet-Spengler reactions of different α-amino acids in very mild conditions have been studied. Excellent yields were obtained by simply heating the free acids in alcoholic solvents, both in the presence and absence of one equivalent of Et3N. However, worse results were obtained for the corresponding methyl esters under the same conditions. These conditions are compatible with many functional groups.
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Figuera et al. (2006) studied this question.
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