Synthesis of Non-Protein Bound Amino Acids

Abstract

Azlactones (1) as such do not undergo catalytic reduction at low pressures of hydrogen (45–65 psi) but the unsaturated acylamirioacrylic acids and their amides could be reduced smoothly. However, catalytic hydrogenation of azlactones (1) in alccholic ammonia gave high yields of N-benzoylemino acid amides (2) in a one step operatian. Hydrolysis of these amides (2), using a variety of conditions, produced either the required α-amino acids (4) or their N-benzoyl-derivatives (3).