Dihalomethylation of N-protected phenylalanine esters

Dihalomethylation of several N-protected amino acid esters gave N-protected α-aminoalkyl-α′-dihalomethylketones, which are useful intermediates for the synthesis of erythro β-amino-α-hydroxycarboxylic acids, in good yield. The dihalomethylketones were successfully converted to N-protected α-aminoalkyl-α′-halomethylketones by selective catalytic hydrogenation.