General regioselective synthesis and crystal structure of racemic 5-substituted 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxyimidazolidin-4-ones

The cyclocondensation of racemic valine, leucine and β-phenylalanine hydroxamic acids with acetone regioselectively affords corresponding cyclic hydroxamic acids; the crystal structure of the 5-isobutyl derivative was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and compared with that of its 5-methyl homologue.