Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of enantiopure protected trans-4-amino-1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-3-carboxylic acid (trans β-TOAC)

Enantiomerically pure (3R,4S) and (3S,4R) protected 4-amino-1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-3-carboxylic acids were synthesized by reduction of the enamines resulting from the condensation of 3-carboxymethyl-1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone with (R) or (S)-α-methylbenzylamine. While NaBH₃CN/CH₃COOH reduction gave predominantly a mixture of the two possible cis-diastereomers, the use of NaBH₄/(CH₃)₂CHCOOH resulted in a mixture of only one trans- and one cis-diastereomer. Removal of the chiral auxiliary from the separated diastereoisomers by hydrogenolysis and regeneration of the nitroxide radical gave the desired β-amino esters. The ESR spectrum of the (3R,4S)-enantiomer is also reported.