Abstract Methylaspartase catalyses the slow syn-elimination of ammonia from the (2S, 3R)- [L-erythro]-diastereomer of the natural substrate,(2S, 3S)-3-methylaspartic acid, to give mesaconic acid. To provide material of sufficient stereochemical purity to probe the mechanism of the reaction, two synthetic routes to (2S, 3R)-and (2S, 3R)[3-2 H]-3- methylaspartic acid were devised. The use of these (2S, 3R)-3-methylaspartic adds ...
