Because of an ultimate interest in optically active a-phthalimidonitriles, it was decided to restrict attention to those methods of preparation which could be based upon the relatively available optically active a-amino acids. However, in the initial stages of investigation the capabilities of the various methods of preparation were assessed on the basis of prior experience with the DL-mixtures. It is known3s4 that both DL-and La-phthalimido-P- ...