Abstract A new route to completely protected α-methylated α-amino acids starting from alanine is described (see Scheme). These derivatives, which are obtained via base- catalyzed opening of the oxazolidinones (2S, 4R)-and (2R, 4S)-2, can be directly employed in peptide synthesis. The synthesis of both enantiomers of Z-protected α-methylaspartic acid β-(tert-butyl) ester (O 4-(tert-butyl) hydrogen 2-methylaspartates (R) or (S)-4a), α-methyl- ...