Stereoselective synthesis of a dialkylhydantoin featuring an asymmetric Strecker reaction on an acyclic dialkyl ketone

A diastereoselective Strecker reaction using (R)-(−)-phenylglycinol forms the basis of a concise scalemic route to dialkylhydantoin 1. The phenylglycinol functionality was exploited in the manipulation of the aminonitrile Strecker product through to the dialkylhydantoin via a short, efficient sequence involving crystalline intermediates.