Abstract Allylic bromination of a series of α, β-unsaturated acids with N-bromosuccinimide gave crude products which could be aminated conveniently in liquid ammonia to prepare the substituted 4-aminobut-2-enoic acid (4-aminocrotonic acid) derivatives (4a-f) in low to moderate yields. The assignment of the trans configuration of the carboxyl and aminomethyl groups about the double bond of the amino acid products is supported by chemical ...