Stereocontrolled synthesis of 3-(trans-2-aminocyclopropyl)alanine, a key component of belactosin A.

Herein we report a concise synthesis of 3-(trans-2-aminocyclopropyl)alanine, a component of belactosin A, using asymmetric alkylation of a glycine enolate in the presence of chiral phase-transfer catalysts to control the configuration at C2. Reaction of protected glycidol with triethyl phosphonoacetate (Wadsworth-Emmons cyclopropanation) is used for enantiospecific preparation of an intermediate cyclopropanecarboxylate that is converted to a cyclopropylamine via Curtius rearrangement. [reaction: see text]