Preparation of (R) and (S) alpha methyldopa from a chiral hydantoin containing the alpha phenylethyl group.

Chiral hydantoin (S)-1 was prepared in good yield from phenyl isocyanate and N-[(S)-alpha-phenylethyl]glycinate, (S)-3. Enolate (S)-1-Li was methylated in high yield and good diastereoselectivity. In contrast, a second alkylation reaction of methylated enolate (S)-4-Li proceeded with essentially no diastereoselectivity.