The “normalizing factor” for the tomato mutant chloronerva. XXX. Synthesis of 3,4‐Seconicotianamine

3,4-Seconicotianamine (7) was synthesized by stepwise reductive alkylation of (S)-N-methylalanine ethyl ester (3) with ethyl (S)-4-oxo-2-(trifluoroacetylamino)butanoate (4). 3,4-Seconicotianamine showed biological activity with regard to the phenotypical normalization of the tomato mutant chloronerva, but to a lesser degree than nicotianamine (1).