A general method for the synthesis of β-alkyl α-hydroxy β-amino and α-and γ-alkyl substituted β-hydroxy-γ-amino acids is described. The synthesis of all three classes of amino acids proceeds through a common chiral alcohol intermediate that is generated from a pro- chiral ketone diester via the action of a nicotinamide-dependent ketoreductase. Regioselective chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis followed by rearrangement under ...