Divergent routes to chiral cyclobutane synthons from (-)-alpha-pinene and their use in the stereoselective synthesis of dehydro amino acids

Research describes the stereoselective synthesis of unique dehydro amino acids that are employed in the synthesis of alpha-amino acids. Results reveal that (-)-alpha-pinene serves as the starting raw material to obtain cyclobutane ring and chiral centers for preparing chiral cyclobutane synthons.