The reaction of a-amino acids with acetic anhydride in the presence of a base to give a- acetamidoalkyl methyl was recognized as an aldol reaction by Dakin and West2 and it appear~~-~ that the over-all reaction proceeds through acetylation of the amino acid, cyclization to the azlactone, reaction of the latter compound with base to give a resonance stabilized carbanion, the reaction of this ion with acetic anhydride to give the azlactone of ...
