First synthesis of the two enantiomers of α-methyldiphenylalanine [(αMe)Dip] by HPLC resolution

A strategy for the preparation of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-α-methyldiphenylalanine, constrained phenylalanine analogs, is described. A racemic precursor was prepared in high yield from easily available starting products and subjected to HPLC resolution on a noncommercial chiral stationary phase. More than 600 mg of each enantiomer was isolated in optically pure form by using a 150 × 20 mm ID column containing mixed 10-undecenoate/3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate of cellulose covalently bonded to allylsilica gel and a mixture of n-hexane/2-propanol/acetone as the mobile phase.Contract grant sponsors: Ministerio de Educacion y Cultura (DGES), Diputacion General de Aragon, Contract grant numbers: PB97-0998; P22/98.Peer reviewe