A convenient synthesis of erythro- and threo-3-fluorophenyl- alanine from a protected glycine synthon

A facile synthesis of the title compounds ($\text{8}$ and $\text{9}$) is described; key steps include the mono-C-alkylation of the glycine Schiff base benzyl ester $\text{1a}$ with α-bromo-α-fluorotoluene, which provides the readily separable fluorinated diastereomers $\text{2a}$ and $\text{3a}$, and the dealkylative hydrolysis of the benzyl esters $\text{2a}$-$\text{5a}$ without concomitant loss of the benzylic fluorine.