A one-pot synthesis of 3-amino-3-arylpropionic acids

3-Aminopropionic acids (beta-amino acids) are biologically active compounds of interest in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry. Twenty-one 3-amino-3-arylpropionic acids were synthesized via a facile one-pot synthesis. In addition, a series of mechanistic studies have been performed to optimize the production of these beta-amino acids. The reaction mechanism of this one-pot synthesis of beta-amino acids, as well as the electronic effect of para-substitution and the influence of solvent polarity on the proposed reaction mechanism are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.