A useful microwave-assisted synthesis of γ-nitro-α-amino esters and corresponding acids, under mild conditions and without solvent, is described. The desired products were obtained via Michael addition from methyl N-(diphenylmethylene)-2,3-didehydroalaninate and commercially available nitroalkanes.

Synthesis of g-Nitro-a-Amino Ester and Acid Derivatives R berto Ballini,*a Cesare Balsamini,b Francesca Bartoccini,b Massimo Gianotti,b Chiara Martinelli, b Nicoletta Savoretti a Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche dell’Università, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy b Istituto di Chimica Farmaceutica, Università degli Studi di Urbino ‘Carlo Bo’, Piazza Rinascimento 6, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy Fax +39(0737)402297; E-mail: roberto.ballini@unicam.it Received 27 August 2004

A microwave-assisted synthesis of γ-nitro acetamido esters, under mild conditions and without solvent, is described. The desired products were obtained via Michael additions from the commercial methyl acetamidoacrylate and nitroalkanes.