C. Alvarezibarra et al., DIASTEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA-ALPHA-DISUBSTITUTED GAMMA-CARBOXYPYROGLUTAMATES VIA SM(III)-AZOMETHINE YLIDE CYCLOADDITIONS, Journal of organic chemistry, 62(3), 1997, pp. 479-484
Sm(III)-azomethine ylides 2 have been generated from ketones 1. Cycloa
ddition of ylides 2 with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 3 through a tra
nsition state chelation-controlled by the metal allowed for the asymme
tric synthesis of gamma-carboxypyroglutamates having a quaternary alph
a-carbon that are potentially useful in the synthesis of neuroprotecti
ve agents.