Efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline, a key fragment in polyoxypeptin A and FR225659

We report an efficient synthesis of protected (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-3-methylproline that proceeds in three steps with complete stereoselectivity. This route represents a significant improvement over previous approaches to this noncanonical amino acid. Key to this success is the development of a one-pot chemoenzymatic procedure for the preparation of (2S,3S)-3-methylproline from l-isoleucine. This work lays the foundation for future chemoenzymatic syntheses of polyoxypeptin A and FR225659.