A highly efficient method for the alpha,beta-dehydrogenation of alpha-amino esters and alpha-amino-beta-diesters

N-monochlorination of N-unprotected alpha-amino esters and alpha-amino-beta-diesters was efficiently and very simply effected by using inexpensive effervescent sodium dichloroisocyanurate tablets for water disinfection in a biphasic organic solvent-water system. Subsequent dehydrochlorination provided alpha,beta-didehydroaminoacid esters, whose hydrogenation would allow the starting compounds to be easily racemized.