The development of a catalytic synthesis of münchnones: a simple four-component coupling approach to alpha-amino acid derivatives.

A new palladium-catalyzed route to prepare 1,3-oxazolium-5-oxides (i.e., Münchnones) directly from imine, carbon monoxide, and acid chloride building blocks has been developed. This provides a straightforward catalytic synthesis of Münchnones and is amenable to generating a diverse range of products by simple modification of the imine or acid chloride starting materials. Münchnones are vital synthetic intermediates to a variety of heterocyclic and peptide-based molecules. As such, this methodology has been utilized to design a new catalytic synthesis of alpha-amino acid derivatives via a one-pot coupling of imines, carbon monoxide, and acid chloride followed by alcohol. The latter represents the first reported catalytic synthesis of alpha-amino acids directly from imine and carbon monoxide building blocks.