L-Amino Acid Amides via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Racemic natural and non-natural N-Bocamino acid thioesters undergo enzyme-catalyzed ammoniolysis and aminolysis with concomitant base-catalyzed racemization of the non-transformed D-enantiomer with the formation of the corresponding L-amides in good yields and excellent enantiomeric purity all above 98% ee. This is the first example of a dynamic kinetic resolution of amino acid derivatives with amides formation.