Beta-Amino acids are important building blocks of peptide drugs and small molecule drugs. The research will focus on the new asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino acids. Through the studies of catalytic asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino acids, those amino acids should be more directly and easily obtained than with current technology. Additionally, as a catalytic process this method of production of beta- amino acids will be environmentally friendly and result in lower prices for these products, thereby expanding their applicability. The goal of phase I is to obtain the optically pure amino acids through catalytic asymmetric synthesis. We will explore the potential of a new concept in the enantioselective synthesis of amino acids, enantiomer-selective activation of racemic catalysts. In phase II we will build on these results to expand the reaction scopes and enlarge the scales to production capacity.
New enantiospecific syntheses of beta-amino acids will expand the gallery of reasonably priced peptide drug precursors and offer the pharmaceutical industry a new arsenal of building blocks for producing peptide drugs for the treatment of AIDS, cancer.
