A Practical Route to Chiral Phenylalanine via the Condensation of Keto Acids with Amides and Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Abstract

The condensation of β‐phenylpyruvic acid with amides gave olefinic intermediates in good yields (75‐80%). The asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation of α‐acetamidocinnamic acid with high enantioselectivity is described.