A trans or cis ethenyl group has been inserted between the alpha -carbon an
d the carboxyl group of alpha -aminoacids by Horner stereoselective olefina
tion of a-aminoaldehydes. Numerous pure cia and trans vinylogous alpha -ami
noacids have been obtained thus and coupled with aminopartners by classical
methods. The versatility of the method was illustrated by the preparation
of a [trans vinylogous-Gly(3)]Leu-enkephalin. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd
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