• Ethyl (or isobutyl) L-lactate adds to aryl methyl ketenes to give esters of 2-arylpropionic acids in which the chirality is transferred to the new chiral center to a surprising degree: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 111, 7650 (1989):
• For reaction with Diphenylphosphonic azide, A12124, in the prepartaion, with inversion, of ethyl (R)-2-azidopropionate, see: Org. Synth., 75, 31 (1997).
• Silylation followed by reaction with MeLi gives a useful chiral synthon. For preparation and discussion of reactivity, see: Org. Synth. Coll., 9, 139 (1998):