Synthesis, resolution, and determination of absolute configuration of protected α-ethynylphenylalanine enantiomers.

Racemic-protected α-ethynylphenylalanine was synthesized from DL-2-benzylserine using α-benzylserinal as key intermediate and was successfully resolved by HPLC on a chiral stationary phase at a semipreparative scale. The absolute configuration of both enantiomers was determined by vibrational circular dichroism.