Aryl trichlorovinyl ketones undergo regioselective reduction to the corresponding carbinols with sodium borohydride in alcoholic solvents and are transformed to the (Z)-u- chlorocinnamate ester derivatives via an acid-catalyzed allylic rearrangement. Michael addition of ammonia to these ester derivatives affords cis-and/or tram-aziridine amides. The facile rearrangement allows the synthesis of d, l-phenylalanine derived from ...
