Efficient enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-hydroxyleucines and their diastereomers through dynamic kinetic resolution

(2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-3-Hydroxyleucines, components of cyclodepsipeptides, papuamides and polyoxypeptins, were efficiently synthesized along with their diastereomers from the corresponding beta -keto-alpha -amino acid ester through dynamic kinetic Z ' resolution using RuCl2(binap)-catalyzed hydrogenation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.