Cbz protected alpha -aminonitriles 1 or alpha -aminocarboxamides 2 were con
verted to imidates 3 either by Pinner reaction or by Meerwein's reagent. Su
lfhydrolysis of 3 produced alpha -aminothiocarboxylic O-esters 4 which in t
urn were reacted with hydroxylamine to give Cbz protected (E)-alpha -aminoc
arbohydroximic eaters 5. Hydrogenolysis of 5 furnished the target compounds
6.