Utilizing the high dielectric constant of water: efficient synthesis of amino acid-derivatized cyclobutenones

This work reports the use of water as a solvent to facilitate an efficient syntheses of amino acid-derivatized cyclobutenone. Kinetics studies in different solvents reveals that high dielectric constants of the solvents are the primary attribute for the high yielding and fast rate for this class of reactions. This class of substitution reactions in water also proceeds efficiently with a wide range of amino acids.