Synthesis of beta-cyclopropylalanines by photolysis of diacyl peroxides.

[reaction: see text] Photolysis at 254 nm of neat (no solvent) unsymmetrical diacyl peroxides derived from cyclopropane carboxylic acids and l-aspartic acid generates protected beta-cyclopropylalanines in reasonable yields. Orthogonally protected 3-(trans-2-aminocyclopropyl)alanine (21), a key constituent of the antitumor agent belactosin A, as well as protected hypoglycin A (26), a causative agent of Jamaican vomiting sickness, is synthesized by this approach with coupling of the intermediate substituted cyclopropyl radicals proceeding predominantly with retention of configuration (dr >or= 95:5).