New chiral building blocks of β-peptoid analogs

The synthesis of chiral functionalized β-amino esters via the hydride reductive amination of chiral allenes was explored. These compounds can be regarded as β-peptoids building blocks bearing a chiral side chain at the nitrogen and at the same time retaining the β-amino acid side chain. β-Enamino esters were obtained from the nucleophilic addition of α-amino esters (l-Ala, d-Ala, l-Phe, l-Leu, l-Trp and d-Trp methyl esters) to 2,3-allenoates bearing a chiral auxiliary, which determines the stereochemistry outcome of the subsequent reduction reaction. It was also demonstrated that in the reduction of β-enamino esters derived from l-Pro and d-Pro methyl esters the chirality of the new chiral center is controlled by the α-amino ester moiety.