Versatile synthesis of ibotenic acid analogues with potential for activity at glutamate receptors by use of a homochiral β-lactam template in our ‘ring switching’ strategy

The activated β-lactam aldehydes 31 and 55 were synthesised and found to be excellent substrates for our ‘ring switching’ strategy for preparation of libraries of homochiral compounds with potential for activity at specific glutamate receptor sub-types. The product heteroaromatic glycine derivatives were ibotenate analogues and the β-lactam templates proved to be more versatile than the previously used pyroglutamic templates.