N-Methylamino acids in peptide synthesis. VII. Studies on the enantiomeric purity of N-methylamino acids prepared by various procedures

Abstract

The enantiomeric purity of N-methylamino acids and their derivatives obtained by various procedures has been examined by analysis with an amino-acid analyzer of the diastereomeric lysyl dipeptides formed by coupling them with a lysyl derivative. N-Benzyloxycarbonyl, and N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl,N-methylamino acids obtained by methylation of the parent derivative using sodium hydride and methyl iodide, and N-methylamino acids obtained by methylation of the p-toluenesulfonylamino acid followed by treatment with sodium in liquid ammonia, are optically pure. Compounds obtained by other procedures which include reductive alkylations or the use of silver oxide – methyl iodide are generally not optically pure.