Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of some N-substituted α-amino acid derivatives containing a hexahydropyrimidine moiety

This work reports a one-pot synthesis of diastereomerically pure N-substituted derivatives of natural amino acids containing a hexahydropyrimidine moiety in 71–89% yields by Mannich reaction of ethyl acetoacetate or 3-oxobutanamide with formaldehyde and amino acid hydrochlorides in acetate buffer (AcONa–AcOH, pH 4) at room temperature. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the compounds obtained were determined in cancer (Jurkat and SH-SY5Y) and conditionally normal (HEK293) human cells.