The first asymmetric synthesis of (2S)- and (2R)-amino-3,3-dimethoxypropanoic acid

The first asymmetric synthesis of (2S)-, and (2R)-amino-3,3-dimethoxypropanoic acid (α-formylglycine dimethylacetal) has been achieved in two steps and 91% overall yield. The key step involved the quenching of a chiral glycine titanium enolate with trimethyl orthoformate.