Preparation of beta-nitroalanine using the Easton three-component coupling method.

A simple one-step preparation of beta-nitroalanine has been developed using the Easton three-component coupling method. To date one limitation of this method has been that use of nitromethane as the nitroalkane component does not yield beta-nitroalanine. We report that use of the dipotassium salt of nitroacetic acid in the Easton three-component coupling gives beta-nitroalanine in high yield, presumably via facile decarboxylation of a beta-nitroaspartate intermediate.