Parallel synthesis of homochiral beta-amino acids

The parallel asymmetric synthesis of an array of 30 P-amino acids of high enantiomeric purity using the conjugate addition of homochiral lithium N-benzyl-N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)amide as the key step is accomplished. The experimental simplicity and highly practical nature of the protocol is demonstrated by the efficient parallel conversion of 15 alpha,beta-unsaturated esters to both enantiomeric series of the corresponding beta-amino acids in high overall yields and selectivities with minimal purification involved in each step of the reaction protocol. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.