A practical and convenient synthesis of azetidine-3-carboxylic acid (1) that proceeded in 55% overall yield from commercially available diethylbis(hydroxymethyl)malonate (3) is reported. Azetidine ring-formation was achieved in high yield by cyclization of bistrifiate of the diol (3) and benzylamine. Decarboxylation under carefully pH-controlled conditions gave the mono acid azetidine that was hydrogenated to give the title compound.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Miller et al. (2003) studied this question.