Process for preparing a cyclic amino acid anticonvulsant compound

摘要

An improved process for the preparation of a cyclic amino acid by a novel synthesis is described where benzonitrile is treated with an alkali metal and an amine under Birch reduction conditions to generate in situ an anionic intermediate which is alkylated with an alpha-haloacetic acid moiety which is subsequently converted to the desired product, as well as valuable intermediates used in the process.