STEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF BETA-AMINO ACIDS VIA CONJUGATE ADDITION OF NITROGEN NUCLEOPHILES TO ALPHA-BETA-UNSATURATED ESTERS - RECENT ADVANCES

The latest results concerning the asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino a cids are reviewed, focussing on methodology involving 1,4-addition of nitrogen nucleophiles to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters. Approaches usi ng both homochiral auxiliaries bound to the enoate and homochiral ammo nia equivalents are included as well as alkylations and aldol reaction s of enolates derived from homochiral beta-amino acids.