A NOVEL DECARBOXYLATION OF α-AMINO ACIDS. A FACILE METHOD OF DECARBOXYLATION BY THE USE OF 2-CYCLOHEXEN-1-ONE AS A CATALYST

Abstract In the presence of a catalytic amount of 2-cyclohexen-1-one, decarboxylation of α-amino acids proceeds smoothly and affords the corresponding amino compounds in good yields. Optically active amino compounds, (3R)-(−)-3-hydroxypyrrolidine and (2R)-(−)-2-hydroxypropylamine are obtained in 93% and 80% yields, respectively.