Organic base-catalyzed stereodivergent synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acids.

Organic base-catalyzed reaction of (S)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl (3,3,3)-trifluoroacetaldimine with dialkyl malonates was found to be effective for synthesis of both (S,S(S)) and (R,S(S)) β-aminomalonates in high yield with good to excellent diastereoselectivity (76-98% de). The products of this Mannich reaction provide direct access to β-trifluoromethyl-β-alanine of either (R) or (S) absolute configuration. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012