Stereoselective Synthesis of γ-Fluorinated α-Amino Acids Using 2-Hydroxy-3-pinanone as an Auxiliary

(+)-(S)-2-Amino-4-fluorobutanoic acid (5a) (> 96% ee), its α-methylated derivative (+)-(S)-5b (85% ee), and (−)-(S)-2-amino-4-fluoro-4-pentenoic acid (10) (81% ee) were synthesized by diastereoselective alkylation in the presence of LDA at low temperatures. Alkylation of (+)-(R,R,R)-2-hydroxy-3-pinanone based imines of glycine tert-butyl ester 1a or alanine isopropyl ester 1b with 1-bromo-2-fluoroethane (2) or 3-bromo-2-fluoropropene (7), respectively, followed by stepwise deprotection was used. The selectivity of the alkylation increased by lithium/magnesium exchange or for 1b also by addition of DMPU. Differences in the reactivity of enolate alkylations of enantiomerically pure or racemic Schiff base 1a with 2 or 7, respectively, can be explained by the formation of structurally different aggregates of the enolates in solution, caused by diastereomeric interactions between enantiomers in the transition state of alkylation.