An Efficient Two-Step Preparation of alpha-, beta-, gamma- or delta-Amino Acids from 2-Pyrazinones, 2-Hydroxypyrimidines or 2-Pyridones Respectively

A practical and efficient two-step procedure is reported for the preparation of a variety of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-amino acids from 2-pyridone, 2-pyrazinone or 2-hydroxypyrimidine and derivatives. The procedure is amenable to scale-up and in most cases no chromatographic purification of the product is required. This approach is useful, especially in the synthesis of amino acids or deuterated amino acids that are not obtained by other methods.