One-pot preparation of N-carbamate protected amino acids via the azide

A convenient and efficient method for the preparation of fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) and allyloxycarbonyl (Alloc) amino acids is proposed. This method is particularly attractive due to the fact that the reaction sequence Fmoc/Allocchloride to Fmoc/Alloc-azide to Fmoc/Alloc-amino acid can readily be carried out in one pot. A further advantage is the minimization of byproducts, which are easily removed during the workup. Most important, this strategy minimizes the formation of dipeptides that are difficult to remove by crystallization. Thus, Fmoc and Alloc amino acids are obtained in high yield (60-90%) and purity as evidenced by thin-layer chromatography, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance.(1)