Synthesis of alkyl 2-(bromomethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylates and alkyl 3-bromoazetidine-3-carboxylates as amino acid building blocks

A short synthesis of alkyl 2-(bromomethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylates and alkyl 3-bromoazetidine-3-carboxylates was developed involving amination, bromination, and base-induced cyclization of alkyl 2-(bromomethyl)acrylates. These new small ring azaheterocyclic α- and β-amino acid derivatives are promising synthons as demonstrated by their transformation to 2-(aminomethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylates and 3-aminoazetidine-3-carboxylates.