Enantioselective Formation of Amino Acids by Isomerization of Mixed Ligand Copper(ll) Schiff-Base Complexes

The formation of optically active phenylalanine from phenylpyruvic acid and pyridoxamine in the presence of various chiral CuII complexes was investigated as a function of the reaction conditions. The enantioselectivity of the reaction, as well as the pH- and ligand-dependant racemization of the product, is discussed in terms of possible reaction pathways and the most likely structure of intermediate [Cu(L)aldimine] complexes