A new facile method for the synthesis of 3-imidazolylpropionic acid N-oxides

A facile and efficient method for the preparation of 3-imidazolylpropionic acid N-oxides has been developed. It involves condensation of 2-unsubstituted imidazole N-oxide with an aldehyde and Meldrum's acid followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the corresponding adduct. This method tolerates a broad variation in the structure of starting aldehydes as well as N-oxides.