Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation at the glycineB site of (+)- and (-)-3-oxetanylglycine, novel non-proteinogenic amino acids.

Two novel non-proteinogenic amino acids, (+)- and (-)-3-oxetanylglycine were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to diplace [3H]-glycine from the glycine site of the NMDA receptor complex. The lack of activity of these compounds at concentrations up to 100 microM may help in understanding the topological requirements of the glycine site of the NMDA receptor complex.