Photolysis of diacyl peroxides: a radical-based approach for the synthesis of functionalized amino acids.

[reaction: see text] Photolysis of the amino acid derived symmetrical and unsymmetrical diacyl peroxides at 254 nm at low temperature (-78 to -196 degrees C) generates various bis(amino acids) in a concise manner and with orthogonal protection. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of (4R)-5-propyl-L-leucine (PrLeu), a component of HUN-7293.