Enzymatic and chiral HPLC resolution of alpha-azido acids and amides

For the first time, enzymatic resolution of alpha-azido acid amides has bee n successfully demonstrated with high yields and enantiomeric excess. In on e case dynamic kinetic resolution was achieved leading to more than 50% yie ld of the enantiomerically pure azido acid. Chiral HPLC was also used to se parate racemic alpha-azido acids and the separation process was automated. Two routes to enantiopure alpha-azido acid building blocks for solid-phase peptide synthesis have, therefore, been established. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.