20 mg (R)-5-Biphenyl-4-yl-4-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-methylenepentanoic acid (2-a, R1=Boc, R2=H, R3=CO2H) is added to isopropyl acetate (400 μl). 5% Rhodium on carbon (2 mg) is then added. Hydrogen gas at ambient pressure is applied to the mixture. The mixture is stirred at ambient temperature and pressure overnight. The mixture is then filtered over Celite and washed with isopropyl acetate (2×0.5 ml). The mixture is then concentrated in vacuo to give (2R,4S)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-4-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-methylpentanoic acid (1-a, R1=Boc, R2=H, R3=CO2H) and (2S,4S)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-4-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-methylpentanoic acid (1-b, R1=Boc, R2=H, R3=CO2H). Spectroscopic data as in Example 40, Method 1.
