Synthesis of L-α-Aminoadipic Acid from L-Lysine

Abstract

L-α-Aminoadipic acid (1), a constituent amino acid of the Arnstein tripeptide,¹ δ-(L-α-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine, a putative acyclic precursor² of the penicillins and cephalo-sporins, has previously been prepared by resolution of the racemate³ and by homologation of L-glutamic acid.⁴ We report herein an alternative procedure based on the conversion of the terminal methylene group of L-lysine to the corresponding acid.