“…IV-Formyl-L-alanine Ethyl Ester (la). L-Alanine (4j) was esterified with ethanol and dry HC1, according to a standard procedure.29,30 Subsequent reaction with formic acid, sodium formate, and acetic anhydride31 afforded la as a colorless liquid in quantitative yield: [ :]21578 -69.0°(c 4, ethanol); IR (neat) 1740 (CO), 1675 (NCO) cm"1; NMR (CDC13) 8.24 (s, 1 H, CHO), 7.75 (br, 1 , NH), 4.61 (m, 1 H, CH), 4.22 (q, 2 H, CH2), 1.43 (d, 3 H, CHS), 1.25 (t, 3 H, CH3).…”