Synthesis of the Neurotransmitter 4-Aminobutanoic Acid (GABA) from Diethyl Cyanomalonate

Title: Synthesis of the Neurotransmitter 4-Aminobutanoic Acid (GABA) from Diethyl Cyanomalonate

Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Author(s): Matthew C. Cook, Ross D. Witherell and Robert L. White

Affiliation:

Keywords: GABA, Diethyl cyanomalonate, Neurotransmitter, Deuterium labeling, Deethoxycarbonylation

Abstract: GABA was synthesized by deethoxycarbonylation, ester hydrolysis and nitrile reduction of a highly functionalized intermediate obtained by alkylation of diethyl cyanomalonate with ethyl bromoacetate. By judicious employment of D2O or NaBD4 in one of the three functional group transformation steps, deuterium was selectively introduced into each of the three possible sites in GABA.

Cite this article as:

Cook C. Matthew, Witherell D. Ross and White L. Robert, Synthesis of the Neurotransmitter 4-Aminobutanoic Acid (GABA) from Diethyl Cyanomalonate, Letters in Drug Design & Discovery 2010; 7 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157018010789869361