A convenient synthesis of enantiomerically pure α-isocyano esters and N^β-Fmoc-amino alkyl isonitriles derived from α-amino acids employing PPh₃/I₂ under mild conditions

1203-1207Synthesis of enantiomerically pure α-isocyano esters has been described starting from α-amino acids. The end products are obtained in good yields by dehydration of N-formyl amino acid esters using PPh3/I2 in the presence of NMM in CH2Cl2 at −15 to 0°C within 1 h. The protocol has been further extended to obtain N-Fmoc-β-amino alkylisonitiles 4j-l, which were isolated as stable solids, purified and fully characterized by mass, 1H and 13C NMR analysis