Cumyl ester as the C-terminal protecting group in the enantioselective alkylation of glycine benzophenone imine.

Cumyl ester is an optimal C-terminal protecting group for glycine benzophenone imine in asymmetric alkylation reactions catalyzed by Cinchona chiral phase-transfer catalysts. High levels of enantioselectivity have been obtained (up to 94% ee) with this substrate, which provides an attractive alternative to the analogous tert-butyl ester. N-terminal imines and the C-terminal esters can be cleaved from alkylation products by hydrogenolysis, while maintaining acid-labile side chain protecting groups.