Enantioselective alpha-silyl amino acid synthesis by reverse-aza-Brook rearrangement.

[reaction: see text] Asymmetric reverse-aza-Brook rearrangement of N-Boc-N-trialkylsilyl allylamine yields an enantiomerically enriched alpha-amino allylsilane. Oxidative cleavage of the alkene leads to a Boc-protected amino acid with the configuration of naturally occurring amino acids (L). Standard coupling protocols, including the use of trifluoroacetic acid for removal of the Boc group, yield a tripeptide with a central silane amino acid.