Efficient microwave combinatorial parallel and nonparallel synthesis of N-alkylated glycine methyl esters as peptide building blocks.

An easy and convenient microwave-assisted synthesis of N-alkylated glycine methyl esters is described. Parallel and nonparallel combinatorial methods are described and compared. The described reactions are reductive alkylations of several aldehydes and glycine methyl ester in the presence of NaBH3CN. Good yields and short reaction times are the main aspects of these procedures.