Synthesis of N,N 2 ‐Disubstituted DL ‐β‐Asparagines as Potential Hypocholesteremics

By the addition of equivalent amount of appropriate amine on the carbon‐carbon double bond of N ‐substituted maleamic acids under the influence of pyridine, a number of potential hypocholesteremics, N , N 2 ‐disubstituted DL ‐β‐asparagines was prepared. For all N ‐alkyl‐ and N ‐arylmaleamic acids, the addition proceeded smoothly and resulted in satisfactory yields, but in the cases of N ‐heterocyclic analogs, transamidation was observed to occur simultaneously with the addition reactions.