The synthesis of optically enriched 2-benzyl- 3-nitropropionic amide

Abstract

The present communication describes a valuable procedure for the short and facile synthesis of a thermolysin inhibitor, i.e. optically enriched 2-benzyl-3-nitropropionic amide, successfully synthesized by virtue of a diastereoisomeric mixture intermediate, starting from commercially available tert-butyl acrylate; (S)-phenylethylamine is used as a source of the amino group in the amide. The reported synthetic route is substantially shorter than literature reports and provides the desired products in significantly higher overall yields. The whole process yields a significant reduction of waste products.

Keywords

• 2-benzyl-3-nitropropionic amide
• optically enriched
• (s)-phenylethylamine
• thermolysin inhibitor