Preparation of beta-(sec-amino)alanines (3) by acid hydrolysis of diet
hyl (sec-aminomethyl)formamidomalonates (2) was studied. Although high
reaction temperature resulted in low yield, low reaction temperature
(below 30 degrees C) gave good to excellent yields. The hydrolysis of
diethyl formamido(piperidinomethyl)malonate (2a) was followed by H-1-N
MR, and a plausible mechanism involving the condensation of ethyl hydr
ogen aminomalonate (7) with 1-piperidinemethanol (5) is proposed.