Synthesis of mono Nα-trifluoroethylated cyclic dipeptides

Trifluoroethylated N-termini in linear dipeptides l-TyrXOR [X = Gly, d-Ala, l-Leu, l-Phe, and l-Glu; R = H, Me, Et] exhibit sufficient nucleophilicity to give piperazine-2,5-dione ring formation through intramolecular cyclization reaction in acidic aqueous solutions. The reactions occur in high yield and with absolute configuration retention.