Synthesis and anticonvulsant activities of (R)-(O)-methylserine derivatives

Efficient procedures for the synthesis of (R)-N-benzyl-2-amino-3-methoxypropionamide ((R)-3), 2-acetamido-3-methoxypropionic acid (4), and O-methylserine (5) are described beginning from (R)-Cbz-serine ((R)-7). The reactions proceeded with little or no racemization and permitted the synthesis of the potent anticonvulsant (R)N-benzyl-2-acetamido-3-methoxypropionamide ((R)-2). The anticonvulsant activities of 2-4 were determined revealing the surprising activity of (R)-2. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.