Abstract
The reaction of enolates of alpha-unsubstituted carboxamides 3 with diphenyl phosphorazidate (DPPA) and di(tert-butyl) dicarbonate ('Boc anhydride') in THF at -78° yielded 2-{[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]amino}carboxamides 5 (Scheme 2) which are derivatives of alpha-amino acids. In this reaction, DPPA acts as an electrophilic amination reagent. A reaction mechanism is proposed in Scheme 3.