Preparation of β-nitroalanine using the Easton three-component coupling method

Abstract

A simple one-step preparation of β-nitroalanine has been developed using the Easton three-component coupling method. To date one limitation of this method has been that use of nitromethane as the nitroalkane component does not yield β-nitroalanine. We report that use of the dipotassium salt of nitroacetic acid in the Easton three-component coupling gives β-nitroalanine in high yield, presumably via facile decarboxylation of a β-nitroaspartate intermediate. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.