Asymmetric and efficient synthesis of homophenylalanine derivatives via Friedel–Crafts reaction with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid

Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Acetal-β'-Amino Ketone Derivatives by Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A range of β-keto-γ-acetal enamides has been synthesized and transformed into the corresponding enantioenriched α-acetal-β'-amino ketones with enantioinductions of up to 99% by using rhodium/QuinoxP*-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation under mild conditions. This method also proved to be highly chemoselective toward the reduction of the C-C double bond.

Utilization of acidic α-amino acids as acyl donors: an effective stereo-controllable synthesis of aryl-keto α-amino acids and their derivatives

Aryl-keto-containing α-amino acids are of great importance in organic chemistry and biochemistry. They are valuable intermediates for the construction of hydroxyl α-amino acids, nonproteinogenic α-amino acids, as well as other biofunctional components. Friedel-Crafts acylation is an effective method to prepare aryl-keto derivatives. In this review, we summarize the preparation of aryl-keto containing α-amino acids by Friedel-Crafts acylation using acidic α-amino acids as acyl-donors and Lewis acids or Brönsted acids as catalysts.