Stereoselective reaction of formaldehyde with N-salicylideneglycyl-L-valinatocopper(II)

The glycine residue in N-salicylideneglycyl-L-valinatocopper(II) reacts with formaldehyde in aqueous solution at pH 8·5 and the resulting complex gives seryl-L-valine containing optically active serine.