Geometry‐Retentive C‐Alkenylation of Lithiated α‐Aminonitriles: Quaternary α‐Alkenyl Amino Acids and Hydantoins

α‐Amino nitriles tethered to alkenes through a urea linkage undergo intramolecular C‐alkenylation on treatment with base by attack of the lithionitrile derivatives on the N′‐alkenyl group. A geometry‐retentive alkene shift affords stereospecifically the E or Z isomer of the 5‐alkenyl‐4‐iminohydantoin products from the corresponding starting E‐ or Z‐N′‐alkenyl urea, each of which may be formed from the same N‐allyl precursor by stereodivergent alkene isomerization. The reaction, formally a nucleophilic substitution at an sp2 carbon atom, allows the direct regioselective incorporation of mono‐, di‐, tri‐, and tetrasubstituted olefins at the α‐carbon of amino acid derivatives. The initially formed 5‐alkenyl iminohydantoins may be hydrolyzed and oxidatively deprotected to yield hydantoins and unsaturated α‐quaternary amino acids. E‐ or Z‐alkenylurea derivatives of aminonitriles undergo stereospecific N‐to‐C alkenyl migration on treatment with base. Alkenyl hydantoins or (upon hydrolysis) alkenyl amino acids of biological and pharmaceutical utility are thus formed. PMP=4‐methoxyphenyl.