SYNTHESIS OF HOMOCHIRAL ALPHA-AMINO-ACIDS BY REDUCTIVE AMINATION OF ALPHA-KETOACIDS VIA 3-SUBSTITUTED-5-PHENYL-3,4-DEHYDROMORPHOLIN-2-ONES - SYNTHESIS OF (S)-2-AMINOBUTANOIC AND (R)-2-AMINOBUTANOIC ACID
2-Oxobutanoic acid has been converted to (R)-or (S)-2-aminobutanoic acid via highly diastereocontrolled hydrogenation of the corresponding homochiral 3-ethyl-5-phenyl-3,4-dehydromorpholin-2-one derivatives.