An efficient asymmetric synthesis of Fmoc-l-cyclopentylglycine via diastereoselective alkylation of glycine enolate equivalent

Stereoselective alkylation of the enolate derived from benzyl (2R,3S)-(−)-6-oxo-2,3-diphenyl-4-morpholinecarboxylate (1) with cyclopentyl iodide afforded anti-α-monosubstituted product, benzyl (2R,3S,5S)-(−)-6-oxo-2,3-diphenyl-5-cyclopentyl-4-morpholinecarboxylate (3) in 60% yield. Catalytic hydrogenolysis over PdCl₂ cleaved the auxiliary ring system to give l-cyclopentylglycine (4) in 84% yield. Subsequent protection of the α-amino function with Fmoc-OSu gave Fmoc-l-cyclopentylglycine (5) in high yield.