Synthesis of 2-fluoro- and 6-fluoro-(2S,3R)-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine as potential in vivo precursors of fluorinated norepinephrines.

The title compounds were prepared by the aldol condensation of 3,4-dibenzyloxy-2-fluorobenzaldehyde and 4,5-dibenzyloxy-2-fluorobenzaldehyde with the oxazolidinone 2, a chiral glycine equivalent. Removal of the chiral auxiliary and blocking groups produced the target amino acids 2-fluoro- and 6-fluoro-(2S,3R)-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine (1b and 1c) in >98% ee.