Synthesis of 2-methyl- and 2-methylenecyclobutane amino acids

An efficient and easy formal [2+2] cycloaddition (Michael–Dieckmann-type reaction) on methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate with ketene diethyl acetal gave the cyclobutane core. Two kinds of 2-substituted cyclobutane amino acids have been obtained from this compound by means of stereocontrolled interconversion of functional groups: 1-amino-2-methylcyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids (2,4-methanovalines) and 1-amino-2-methylenecyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid. The latter amino acid can be regarded as a restricted α-methyl-α-vinylglycine.