Surprising reactivity of (methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate)tricarbonyliron(0) leading to the synthesis of β,β,β-trialkyl α-amino acids

Abstract

Addition of methyllithium followed by tertiary haloalkanes to readily available and air-stable (methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate)tricarbonyliron(0)1, gives protected β,β,β-trialkyl α-amino acids which are hydrolysed to give tert-leucine 10 and the new α-amino acids 2-amino-3,3-dimethylpentanoic acid 11 and 2-amino-3,3-dimethylhexanoic acid 12.