O-Methyl-l-serine and its derivatives are relevant in peptide synthesis (food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics). Optically active O-methyl-l-serine was prepared using a chemoenzymatic method from inexpensive acrylamide. Our method is a four step reaction sequence; bromination of acrylamide; etherification of dibromopropionamide; ammonolysis of α-bromo-β-methoxy-propionamide; enzymatic racemization; and selective hydrolysis. ...
