The synthesis of the phthaloyl protected thiazolidine, N-phthaloyl-methyl-2 (R)-thiazolidine-4 (R)-methyl ester, 2, and a study of its susceptibility to epimerise in a range of solvents, using 1H NMR spectroscopy, are described. Compound 2 was further reacted to yield the thiazole amino acid derivative, 3, and an N-alkylated thiazolidine derivative, 6, as a single diastereoisomer. The N-alkylation of 2, using mild bases, resulted in the formation of a ...