Enantiospecific Synthesis of 5-Methoxy-D(+)- OR L(-) Tryptophan

Abstract

A method for the enantiospecific synthesis of 5-methoxy-D(+)-tryptophan 8 or the L(-)-optical antipode is described. This procedure can be scaled up and performed without the need for extensive chromatographic separations. It provides for the first time the synthesis of the optically pure 5-methoxy-D(+) or L(-)-tryptophans required for alkaloid total synthesis.