A Stereodivergent Approach to Amino Acids, Amino Alcohols, or Oxazolidinones of High Enantiomeric Purity

(-)-Menthone, an inexpensive chiral auxiliary, was used to prepare both enantiomers of alpha-amino acids, amino alcohols, or oxazolidinones. The sequence includes the S(N)2' displacement by a cuprate reagent and a Curtius rearrangement as key steps.

A Stereodivergent Approach to Chiral Nonracemic N-Protected α,α-Dialkylated Amino Acids

Menthyl carboxaldehyde is used as a chiral auxiliary to make quaternary amino acids of either configuration via a stereodivergent approach that includes an SN2' displacement by a cuprate reagent and a Curtius rearrangement as key steps.