Synthesis of orthogonally protected azepane β-amino ester enantiomers

A simple and convenient route is presented for the preparation of regio- and stereoisomers of novel azepane β-amino esters, starting from bicyclic β-lactam isomers. The synthetic procedure consists of dihydroxylation of the olefinic bond of the alicyclic amino esters, followed by NaIO4-mediated cleavage of the diol intermediate and reductive ring closure, which furnishes novel regioisomeric 5-aminoazepane-4-carboxylate and 3-aminoazepane-4-carboxylates. This method also allows the preparation of amino esters with an azepane skeleton in enantiomerically pure form.