Abstract
Optically active alanine, valine and leucine were obtained by a transamination reaction between pyridoxamine and the corresponding α‐keto acid in the presence of a Cu2+‐complex with the tridentate ligand 2,6‐bis[(3S)‐3‐phenykl‐2‐azabutyl]pyridine. In each case the amino acid with (R)‐configuration was formed preferentially, and the maximum enantiomeric excesses were 54% (alanine), 48% (leucine) and 29% (valine). The stereoselectivity of the reaction is discussed in terms of the possible structure and the stability of the intermediate Cu2+‐ketimine‐ligand complex.