An efficient route for the synthesis of enantiopure unnatural α-amino acids and 2-amino alcohols was developed. The synthesis is based on the Wittig-type olefination of 3-benzyloxy-2-(tertbutoxycarbonylamino)propanal with various ylides.

An efficient synthesis of (S)-α-amino oleic acid was developed. The fully protected FA derivative was obtained in four steps starting from methyl (2S)-2-[bis(tert-butoxycar-bonyl)amino]-5-oxopentanoate. These steps are (i) olefination of the starting aldehyde with the appropriate phosphonate anion, (ii) hydrogenation of the double bonds, (iii) controlled reduction of ω-ethyl ester to an aldehyde in the presence of α-methyl ester, and (iv) a Wittig reaction of the latter aldehyde with the suitable ylide. Free α-amino oleic acid was prepared after deprotection of the amino group followed by saponification in a total yield of 24%. N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-protected amino oleic acid and the corresponding amino alcohol were prepared in high yield. The structures of the products have been established by various spectroscopic techniques.