A stereoselective synthesis of (2S,5R)-5-hydroxylysine (1) and (2R,5R)-5-hy
droxylysine (17), based on a concept involving Williams glycine template me
thodology and (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase for the introduction of chirality at
the alpha -position and the side-chain, respectively, is described. This s
trategy offers an expeditious route towards orthogonally protected 5-hydrox
ylysines.