Diastereoselective reduction of a chiral N-Boc-protected delta-amino-alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-keto ester Phe-Gly dipeptidomimetic.

The readily available N-Boc-protected delta-amino alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-keto ester 1 was diastereoselectively reduced to the corresponding alcohols 2 and 3, using boron- and aluminum-based reducing reagents. Reduction reactions were successful and resulted in anti/syn ratios of alcohols of >95:5 (80% yield), using LiAlH(O-t-Bu)(3) in EtOH at -78 degrees C under chelation control, and 5:95 (98% yield), using NB-Enantride in THF at -78 degrees C under Felkin-Anh control.