Achiral 1-benzoyl-3-methylperhydropyrimidin-4-one (1) was deemed a useful, potential precursor for the enantioselective synthesis of α-substituted β-amino acids. Pyrimidinone 1 was prepared from inexpensive β-aminopropanoic acid in 62% overall yield. Prochiral enolate derivative 1-Li was alkylated in good yield and moderate enantioselectivity in the presence of chiral amines (S)-8,(S, S)-9,(S, S)-10, or (−)-sparteine. The enantioselectivity ...
