Reaction of (Z)-3-bromo-2-(2-phenylacetamido) acrylic acid (1) with MezCuLi yielded (Z)-2- (2-phenylacetamido) crotonic acid (3), while the reaction with n-BuzCuLi gave a 2: l mixture of 2 and E isomers, 5 and 6, of 2-(2-phenylacetamido) hept-2-enoic acid. In each case, the reduction product, 2-(2-phenylacetamido) acrylic acid (4), was formed as a minor product. The (2)-3-~ hloroacrylate 7, upon reaction with MezCuLi, gave the (2)-crotonate 8, while a ...
