A selective catalytic side chain oxidation of lysine and ornithine derivatives

The fully protected derivatives of the diamino acids lysine and ornithine (n=1, 2) can be oxidized selectively in the side chain using a Mn(OAc)2/peracetic acid/NaOAc system. The ε or γ carbon, respectively, is converted to the aldehyde oxidation state, protected as the cyclic N,N-acetal.