Synthesis of Novel Alkyl $\alpha$-Anilinophenylacetate Derivatives Using Hydrolysis of Hydantoin Ring and Its O-Alkylation

For the development of new synthetic method for unnatural amino acid esters, alkyl ${\alpha}$-anilinophenylacetates were synthesized through base-catalyzed hydrolysis of 1,5-diphenylhydantoins in methanol and O-alkylation of sodium ${\alpha}$-anilinophenylacetate with alkyl halides in DMF. Even though hydrolysis of hydantoin ring was undertaken under about 30-40$^{\circ}C$ in methanol, the hydantoic acid sodium salt was continuously converted to the sodium ${\alpha}$-anilinophenylacetate. (omitted)