Intermediate for synthesis of racemic amino acids, by reaction with an electrophile, e.g alkyl halide, followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation. The reactivity can be reversed by conversion to the dehydro-derivative, which then undergoes nucleophilic attack with alkyllithiums, Grignards, malonate anion, etc.: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 21, 203 (1982). Substituents can also be introduced by Michael addition to a wide variety of acceptors: Synth. Commun., 18, 367 (1988).
