Straightforward Synthesis of (R,S)-β-Methyleneaspartic Acid, an Inhibitor of Glutamate-Aspartate Transaminase

A Baylis-Hillman adduct of methyl acrylate and ethyl glyoxalate was converted into the trichloroacetimidate that in the presence of DABCO rearranged to the corresponding trichloroacetamide. Eventually, hydrolysis under acidic conditions, led to the hydrochloride of racemic β-methyleneaspartic acid.