High yielding synthesis of dehydroamino acid and dehydropeptide derivatives

By using a 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) catalysed reaction of beta-hydrox yamino acid derivatives with tert-butyl pyrocarbonate [(Boc)(2)O], dehydroa mino acid derivatives are obtained in high yields. The same methodology app lied to dipeptides with a beta-hydroxyamino acid residue gives the correspo nding dipeptides with a dehydroamino acid residue.