Crystallization-induced asymmetric transformations and self-regeneration of stereocenters (SROSC): enantiospecific synthesis of α-benzylalanine and hydantoin BIRT-377

N-Isobutoxycarbonyl protected l-alanine was condensed with 4-phenylbenzaldehyde in a crystallization-controlled process to give the corresponding cis-oxazolidinone derivative as the sole product in high yield; this underwent enolization and benzylation with the typical high degree of stereoselectivity observed in the SROSC involving this class of compounds.