Synthesis of Bis‐Heterocyclic 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides from 3‐Oxido‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides

The reaction of 1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides 1 , which are conveniently accessible by treatment of the corresponding esters with NH₂NH₂?H₂O, with isothiocyanates in refluxing EtOH led to thiosemicarbazides (=hydrazinecarbothioamides) 4 in high yields (Scheme 2). Whereas 4 in boiling aqueous NaOH yielded 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones 5 , the reaction in concentrated H₂SO₄ at room temperature gave 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amines 6 . Similarly, the reaction of 1 with butyl isocyanate led to semicarbazides 7 , which, under basic conditions, undergo cyclization to give 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ones 8 (Scheme 3). Treatment of 1 with Ac₂O yielded the diacylhydrazine derivatives 9 exclusively, and the alternative isomerization of 1 to imidazol‐2‐ones was not observed (Scheme 4). It is important to note that, in all these transformations, the imidazole N‐oxide residue is retained. Furthermore, it was shown that imidazole N‐oxides bearing a 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione or 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amine moiety undergo the S‐transfer reaction to give bis‐heterocyclic 1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 11 by treatment with 2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutane‐1,3‐dithione (Scheme 5).     

A One‐Pot Biginelli Synthesis of 6‐Unsubstituted 5‐Aroylpyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones and 6‐Acetyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3(2H)‐ones

The three‐component Biginelli‐like cyclocondensation reaction of enamines 1 , urea, and aldehydes in dioxane/acetic acid efficiently afforded the corresponding 6‐unsubstituted 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones 2 in good yields (Scheme 1, Table). The corresponding reaction of azaenamine (=hydrazone) 7 with benzaldehyde and urea afforded 6‐acetyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3(2H)‐ones in good yields (Scheme 3).     

Reactions of Imidoyl Isoselenocyanates with Aromatic 2‐Amino N‐Heterocycles and 1‐Methyl‐1H‐imidazole

The reaction of N‐phenylimidoyl isoselenocyanates 1 with 2‐amino‐1,3‐thiazoles 10 in acetone proceeded smoothly at room temperature to give 4H‐1,3‐thiazolo[3,2‐a] [1,3,5]triazine‐4‐selones 13 in fair yields (Scheme 2). Under the same conditions, 1 and 2‐amino‐3‐methylpyridine ( 11 ) underwent an addition reaction, followed by a spontaneous oxidation, to yield the 3H‐4λ⁴‐[1,2,4]selenadiazolo[1′,5′:1,5] [1,2,4]selenadiazolo[2,3‐a]pyridine 14 (Scheme 3). The structure of 14 was established by X‐ray crystallography (Fig. 1). Finally, the reaction of 1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazole ( 12 ) and 1 led to 3‐methyl‐1‐(N‐phenylbenzimidoyl)‐1H‐imidazolium selenocyanates 15 (Scheme 4). In all three cases, an initially formed selenourea derivative is proposed as an intermediate.     

One‐Pot,Three‐Component Synthesis of Novel Spiro[3H‐indole‐3,2′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′(1H)‐diones in an Ionic Liquid as a Reusable Reaction Media

A facile one‐pot, three‐component protocol for the synthesis of novel spiro[3H‐indole‐3,2′‐thiazolidine]‐2,4′(1H)‐diones by condensing 1H‐indole‐2,3‐diones, 4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐amine and 2‐sulfanylpropanoic acid in [bmim]PF₆ (1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium hexafluorophosphate) as a recyclable ionic‐liquid solvent gave good to excellent yields in the absence of any catalyst (Scheme 1 and Table 2). The advantages of this protocol over conventional methods are the mild reaction conditions, the high product yields, a shorter reaction time, as well as the eco‐friendly conditions.     

Asymmetric Hydroformylation of Vinylfurans Catalyzed by {(11bS)‐4‐{[(1R)‐2′‐Phosphino[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐yl]oxy}dinaphtho[2,1‐d:1′,2′‐f]‐ [1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin}rhodium(I) [RhI{(R,S)‐binaphos}] Derivatives

The asymmetric hydroformylation of 2‐ and 3‐vinylfurans ( 2a and 2b , resp.) was investigated by using [Rh{(R,S)‐binaphos}] complexes as catalysts ((R,S)‐binaphos = (11bS)‐4‐{[1R)‐2′‐phosphino[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐yl]oxy}dinaphtho[2,1‐d:1′,2′‐f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin; 1 ). Hydroformylation of 2 gave isoaldehydes 3 in high regio‐ and enantioselectivities (Scheme 2 and Table). Reduction of the aldehydes 3 with NaBH₄ successfully afforded the corresponding alcohols 5 without loss of enantiomeric purity (Scheme 3).     

Tandem Hydroformylation/Reductive Amination of 3‐Allyl‐2‐methylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one

The 3‐allyl‐2‐methylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one ( 1 ), a model functionalized terminal olefin, was submitted to hydroformylation and reductive amination under optimized reaction conditions. The catalytic carbonylation of 1 in the presence of Rh catalysts complexed with phosphorus ligands under different reaction conditions afforded a mixture of 2‐methyl‐4‐oxoquinazoline‐3(4H)‐butanal ( 2 ) and α,2‐dimethyl‐4‐oxoquinazoline‐3(4H)‐propanal ( 3 ) as products of ‘linear’ and ‘branched’ hydroformylation, respectively (Scheme 2). The hydroaminomethylation of quinazolinone 1 with arylhydrazine derivatives gave the expected mixture of [(arylhydrazinyl)alkyl]quinazolinones 5 and 6 , besides a small amount of 2 and 3 (Scheme 3). The tandem hydroformylation/reductive amination reaction of 1 with different amines gave the quinazolinone derivatives 7 – 10 . Compound 10 was used to prepare the chalcones 11a and 11b and pyrazoloquinazolinones 12a and 12b (Scheme 4).     

7‐Halogenated 7‐Deazapurine 2′‐Deoxyribonucleosides Related to 2′‐Deoxyadenosine, 2′‐Deoxyxanthosine,and 2′‐Deoxyisoguanosine: Syntheses and Properties

A series of 7‐fluorinated 7‐deazapurine 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides related to 2′‐deoxyadenosine, 2′‐deoxyxanthosine, and 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine as well as intermediates 4b – 7b, 8, 9b, 10b , and 17b were synthesized. The 7‐fluoro substituent was introduced in 2,6‐dichloro‐7‐deaza‐9H‐purine ( 11a ) with Selectfluor (Scheme 1). Apart from 2,6‐dichloro‐7‐fluoro‐7‐deaza‐9H‐purine ( 11b ), the 7‐chloro compound 11c was formed as by‐product. The mixture 11b / 11c was used for the glycosylation reaction; the separation of the 7‐fluoro from the 7‐chloro compound was performed on the level of the unprotected nucleosides. Other halogen substituents were introduced with N‐halogenosuccinimides ( 11a → 11c – 11e ). Nucleobase‐anion glycosylation afforded the nucleoside intermediates 13a – 13e (Scheme 2). The 7‐fluoro‐ and the 7‐chloro‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosines, 5b and 5c , respectively, were obtained from the corresponding MeO compounds 17b and 17c , or 18 (Scheme 6). The 2′‐deoxyisoguanosine derivative 4b was prepared from 2‐chloro‐7‐fluoro‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosine 6b via a photochemically induced nucleophilic displacement reaction (Scheme 5). The pK_a values of the halogenated nucleosides were determined (Table 3). ¹³C‐NMR Chemical‐shift dependencies of C(7), C(5), and C(8) were related to the electronegativity of the 7‐halogen substituents (Fig. 3). In aqueous solution, 7‐halogenated 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides show an approximately 70% S population (Fig. 2 and Table 1).     

Stereoselective Synthesis of [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐Hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐D‐valine]]‐ and [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐Hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐L‐valine]cyclosporin A

Addition of various amines to the 3,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)acrylamides 10a and 10b gave the tripeptides 11a – 11f , mostly as mixtures of epimers (Scheme 3). The crystalline tripeptide 11f ₂ was found to be the N‐terminal (2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐substituted (R,S,S)‐ester HOCH₂CH₂O‐D ‐Val(F₆)‐MeLeu‐Ala‐O^tBu by X‐ray crystallography. The C‐terminal‐protected tripeptide 11f ₂ was condensed with the N‐terminus octapeptide 2b to the depsipeptide 12a which was thermally rearranged to the undecapeptide 13a (Scheme 4). The condensation of the epimeric tripeptide 11f ₁ with the octapeptide 2b gave the undecapeptide 13b directly. The undecapeptides 13a and 13b were fully deprotected and cyclized to the [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐D ‐valine]]‐ and [5‐[4,4,4,4′,4′,4′‐hexafluoro‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐L ‐valine]]cyclosporins 14a and 14b , respectively (Scheme 5). Rate differences observed for the thermal rearrangements of 12a to 13a and of 12b to 13b are discussed.     

Synthesis of 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Acyclo C‐Nucleosides Bearing 5‐Methylthio{7‐substituted‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐yl}moieties

Oxidative cyclization of the sugar hydrazones ( 3_a‐f ) derived from {7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐ylsulfanyl}acetic acid hydrazide ( 1 ) and aldopentoses 2_a‐c or aldohexoses 2_d‐f with bromine in acetic acid in the presence of anhydrous sodium acetate, followed by acetylation with acetic anhydride gave the corresponding 2‐(per‐O‐acetyl‐alditol‐l‐yl)‐5‐methylthio{7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐yl}‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles ( 5_a‐f ). Condensative cyclization of the sugar hydrazones ( 3_a‐f ) by heating with acetic anhydride gave the corresponding 3‐acetyl‐2‐(per‐O‐acetyl‐alditol‐1‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐5‐methylthio{7‐acetyl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐d]tetrazol‐6‐yl}‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles ( 11_a‐f ). De‐O‐acetylation of the acyclo C‐nucleoside peracetates ( 5 and 11 ) with methanolic ammonia afforded the hydrazono lactones ( 7 ) and the acyclo C‐nucleosides ( 12 ), respectively. The structures of new oxadiazole derivatives were confirmed by analytical and spectral data.     

Reaction of Optically Active Oxiranes with Thiofenchone and 1‐Methylpyrrolidine‐2‐thione: Formation of 1,3‐Oxathiolanes and Thiiranes

The SnCl₄‐catalyzed reaction of (?)‐thiofenchone (=1,3,3‐trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane‐2‐thione; 10 ) with (R)‐2‐phenyloxirane ((R)‐ 11 ) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ at ?60° led to two spirocyclic, stereoisomeric 4‐phenyl‐1,3‐oxathiolanes 12 and 13 via a regioselective ring enlargement, in accordance with previously reported reactions of oxiranes with thioketones (Scheme 3). The structure and configuration of the major isomer 12 were determined by X‐ray crystallography. On the other hand, the reaction of 1‐methylpyrrolidine‐2‐thione ( 14a ) with (R)‐ 11 yielded stereoselectively (S)‐2‐phenylthiirane ((S)‐ 15 ) in 56% yield and 87–93% ee, together with 1‐methylpyrrolidin‐2‐one ( 14b ). This transformation occurs via an S_N2‐type attack of the S‐atom at C(2) of the aryl‐substituted oxirane and, therefore, with inversion of the configuration (Scheme 4). The analogous reaction of 14a with (R)‐2‐{[(triphenylmethyl)oxy]methyl}oxirane ((R)‐ 16b ) led to the corresponding (R)‐configured thiirane (R)‐ 17b (Scheme 5); its structure and configuration were also determined by X‐ray crystallography. A mechanism via initial ring opening by attack at C(3) of the alkyl‐substituted oxirane, with retention of the configuration, and subsequent decomposition of the formed 1,3‐oxathiolane with inversion of the configuration is proposed (Scheme 5).     

Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐4,6‐dihydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyridazine‐2,5(1H,3H)‐diones from Biginelli Compounds

Biginelli compounds 1 were first brominated at Me? C(6) with 2,4,4,6‐tetrabromocyclohex‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one to give Br₂CH? C(6) derivatives 2 . The hydrolysis of the 6‐(dibromomethyl) group of 2c to give the 6‐formyl derivative 3c in the presence of an expensive Ag salt followed by reaction with N₂H₄?H₂O yielded tetrahydropyrimido[4,5‐d]pyridazine‐2,5(1H,3H)‐dione ( 4c ; Scheme 1). However, treatment of the 6‐(dibromomethyl) derivatives 2 directly with N₂H₄?H₂O led to the fused heterocycles 4 in better overall yield (Schemes 1 and 2; Table).     

Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐5‐oxo‐4‐[2‐(phenylmethylidene)hydrazino]‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carboxylates by the Reaction between Hydrazones,Acetylenedicarboxylates, and 1‐Aryl‐N,N′‐bis(arylmethylidene)methanediamines

An efficient approach for the preparation of functionalized 2‐aryl‐2,5‐dihydro‐5‐oxo‐4‐[2‐(phenylmethylidene)hydrazino]‐1H‐pyrroles is described. The four‐component reaction between aldehydes, NH₂NH₂?H₂O, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and 1‐aryl‐N,N′‐bis(arylmethylidene)methanediamines proceeds in EtOH under reflux in good‐to‐excellent yields (Scheme 1). The structures of 4 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS, and, in the case of 4f , by X‐ray crystallography). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

Silica‐Bound 3‐{2‐[Poly(ethylene Glycol)]ethyl}‐Substituted 1‐Methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium Bromide: A Recoverable Phase‐Transfer Catalyst for Smooth and Regioselective Conversion of Oxiranes to β‐Hydroxynitriles in Water

A series of β‐hydroxynitriles were efficiently synthesized from the regioselective ring opening of oxiranes by cyanide anion in the presence of silica‐bound 3‐{2‐[poly(ethylene glycol)]ethyl}‐substituted 1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium bromide (SiO₂? PEG? ImBr) as a novel recoverable phase‐transfer catalyst in H₂O (Scheme 1 and Table 2). The workup procedure was straightforward, and the catalyst could be reused over four times with almost no loss of catalytic activity and selectivity.     

Chiral Heterospirocyclic 2H‐Azirin‐3‐amines as Synthons for 3‐Amino‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydrofuran‐3‐carboxylic Acid and Their Use in Peptide Synthesis

The heterospirocyclic N‐methyl‐N‐phenyl‐5‐oxa‐1‐azaspiro[2.4]hept‐1‐e n‐2‐amine (6 ) and N‐(5‐oxa‐1‐azaspiro[2.4]hept‐1‐en‐2‐yl)‐(S)‐proline methyl ester ( 7 ) were synthesized from the corresponding heterocyclic thiocarboxamides 12 and 10 , respectively, by consecutive treatment with COCl₂, 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, and NaN₃ (Schemes 1 and 2). The reaction of these 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines with thiobenzoic and benzoic acid gave the racemic benzamides 13 and 14 , and the diastereoisomeric mixtures of the N‐benzoyl dipeptides 15 and 16 , respectively (Scheme 3). The latter were separated chromatographically. The configurations and solid‐state conformations of all six benzamides were determined by X‐ray crystallography. With the aim of examining the use of the new synthons in peptide synthesis, the reactions of 7 with Z‐Leu‐Aib‐OH to yield a tetrapeptide 17 (Scheme 4), and of 6 with Z‐Ala‐OH to give a dipeptide 18 (Scheme 5) were performed. The resulting diastereoisomers were separated by means of MPLC or HPLC. NMR Studies of the solvent dependence of the chemical shifts of the NH resonances indicate the presence of an intramolecular H‐bond in 17 . The dipeptides (S,R)‐ 18 and (S,S)‐ 18 were deprotected at the N‐terminus and were converted to the crystalline derivatives (S,R)‐ 19 and (S,S)‐ 19 , respectively, by reaction with 4‐bromobenzoyl chloride (Scheme 5). Selective hydrolysis of (S,R)‐ 18 and (S,S)‐ 18 gave the dipeptide acids (R,S)‐ 20 and (S,S)‐ 20 , respectively. Coupling of a diastereoisomeric mixture of 20 with H‐Phe‐O^tBu led to the tripeptides 21 (Scheme 5). X‐Ray crystal‐structure determinations of (S,R)‐ 19 and (S,S)‐ 19 allowed the determination of the absolute configurations of all diastereoisomers isolated in this series.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel 1‐Methyl‐3‐(4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐indazole Derivatives

A series of novel 1‐methyl‐3‐(4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐indazoles was synthesized in three steps from 5‐(1‐methyl‐1H‐indazol‐3‐yl)‐4‐phenyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3(4H)‐thiones. 5‐(1‐Methyl‐1H‐indazol‐3‐yl)‐4‐phenyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3(4H)‐thiones were converted into 1‐methyl‐3‐(5‐(methylsulfonyl)‐4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐indazoles upon methylation followed by treatment with aq. KMnO₄. The reaction of 1‐methyl‐3‐(5‐(methylsulfonyl)‐4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐indazoles with Raney nickel resulted in desulphonylation to afford corresponding 1‐methyl‐3‐(4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐indazoles. All the new synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral techniques.     

Synthesis of Optically Active 1‐(1‐Phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazoles Derived from 1‐Phenylethylamine

The three‐component reaction of (R)‐ or (S)‐1‐phenylethylamine ( 6 ), formaldehyde, and an α‐(hydroxyimino) ketone 5 , i.e., 3‐(hydroxyimino)butan‐2‐one ( 5a ) or 2‐(hydroxyimino)‐1,2‐diphenylethanone ( 5b ), yields the corresponding enantiomerically pure 1‐(1‐phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazole 3‐oxide 7 in high yield (Schemes 2 and 3). The reactions are carried out either in MeOH or in AcOH. Smooth transformations of the N‐oxides into optically active 1‐(1‐phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazoles 10 and 2,3‐dihydro‐1‐(1‐phenylethyl)‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 11 are achieved by treatment of 7 with Raney‐Ni and 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐thioxocyclobutanone ( 12 ), respectively (Scheme 4).     

Synthesis of 5‐Aryl‐3‐(methylsulfanyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles via Three‐Component Reaction of 1,1‐Bis(methylsulfanyl)‐2‐nitroethene,Aromatic Aldehydes,and Hydrazine

An efficient approach for the preparation of functionalized 5‐aryl‐3‐(methylsulfanyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles 2 is described. This three‐component reaction between benzaldehydes 1 , NH₂NH₂?H₂O, and 1,1‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐2‐nitroethene proceeds in EtOH under reflux conditions in good‐to‐excellent yields. The structures of 2 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

Catalyst‐ and solvent‐free synthesis of 2‐fluoro‐N‐(3‐methylsulfanyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐yl)benzamide through a microwave‐assisted Fries rearrangement: X‐ray structural and theoretical studies

An efficient approach for the regioselective synthesis of (5‐amino‐3‐methylsulfanyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)(2‐fluorophenyl)methanone, C₁₀H₉FN₄OS, (3), from the N‐acylation of 3‐amino‐5‐methylsulfanyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole, (1), with 2‐fluorobenzoyl chloride has been developed. Heterocyclic amide (3) was used successfully as a strategic intermediate for the preparation of 2‐fluoro‐N‐(3‐methylsulfanyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐yl)benzamide, C₁₀H₉FN₄OS, (4), through a microwave‐assisted Fries rearrangement under catalyst‐ and solvent‐free conditions. Theoretical studies of the prototropy process of (1) and the Fries rearrangement of (3) to provide (4), involving the formation of an intimate ion pair as the key step, were carried out by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The crystallographic analysis of the intermolecular interactions and the energy frameworks based on the effects of the different molecular conformations of (3) and (4) are described.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 4‐(Alkylamino)‐1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐3‐benzoyl‐1,5‐ dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐5‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones via a Multicomponent Reaction

An effective route to novel 4‐(alkylamino)‐1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐3‐benzoyl‐1,5‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐5‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrrol‐2‐ones 10 is described (Scheme 2). This involves the reaction of an enamine, derived from the addition of a primary amine 5 to 1,4‐diphenylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione, with an arenesulfonyl isocyanate 7 . Some of these pyrrolones 10 exhibit a dynamic NMR behavior in solution because of restricted rotation around the C? N bond resulting from conjugation of the side‐chain N‐atom with the adjacent α,β‐unsaturated ketone group, and two rotamers are in equilibrium with each other in solution ( 10 ? 11 ; Scheme 3). The structures of the highly functionalized compounds 10 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS), by elemental analyses, and, in the case of 10a , by X‐ray crystallography. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is proposed (Scheme 4).     

Stereoselective Preparation of 3‐Amino‐2‐fluoro Carboxylic Acid Derivatives,and Their Incorporation in Tetrahydropyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones,and in Open‐Chain and Cyclic β‐Peptides

The preparation of (2S,3S)‐ and (2R,3S)‐2‐fluoro and of (3S)‐2,2‐difluoro‐3‐amino carboxylic acid derivatives, 1 – 3 , from alanine, valine, leucine, threonine, and β³h‐alanine (Schemes 1 and 2, Table) is described. The stereochemical course of (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride (DAST) reactions with N,N‐dibenzyl‐2‐amino‐3‐hydroxy and 3‐amino‐2‐hydroxy carboxylic acid esters is discussed (Fig. 1). The fluoro‐β‐amino acid residues have been incorporated into pyrimidinones ( 11 – 13 ; Fig. 2) and into cyclic β‐tri‐ and β‐tetrapeptides 17 – 19 and 21 – 23 (Scheme 3) with rigid skeletons, so that reliable structural data (bond lengths, bond angles, and Karplus parameters) can be obtained. β‐Hexapeptides Boc[(2S)‐β³hXaa(αF)]₆OBn and Boc[β³hXaa(α,αF₂)]₆‐OBn, 24 – 26 , with the side chains of Ala, Val, and Leu, have been synthesized (Scheme 4), and their CD spectra (Fig. 3) are discussed. Most compounds and many intermediates are fully characterized by IR‐ and ¹H‐, ¹³C‐ and ¹⁹F‐NMR spectroscopy, by MS spectrometry, and by elemental analyses, [α]_D and melting‐point values.