Recent developments in kainoid amino acid chemistry

This review has highlighted the considerable number of synthetic approaches which have been reported to natural and unnatural kainoid amino acids (up to mid-September 1995). In addition to the synthetic challenge, the preparation of these compounds has attracted tremendous interest due to their biological activity. The extremely potent neuroexcitatory aromatic acromelate analogues are of particular interest at present and the synthesis of these and related compounds should attract the attention of the synthetic chemist for many years to come.