Synthesis of rac-2′-(trimethylsilyl)isovaline: A novel silicon-containing α,α-dialkylated α-amino acid

An efficient, convenient, and reliable multi-step synthesis of rac-2′-(trimethylsilyl)isovaline (rac-3) that uses inexpensive reagents in all steps has been developed, starting from diethyl malonate (overall yield 28%). Compound rac-3 is the first α-ethylated α,α-dialkylated silicon-containing α-amino acid.