Synthesis and piezoelectric properties of N-phthaloylglutamic acid derivatives

The (S,S)- and (R,R)-enantiomers of dimethyl 2,4-diphthalimidoglutarate were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of bromine in dimethyl (2S,4RS)-4-bromo-N-phthaloyl-glutamate upon treatment with potassium phthalimide, followed by separation. The crystal structure of the obtained compounds was studied by X-ray diffraction. Crystals of enantiomerically pure dimethyl 4-hydroxy- and 4-phthalimido-N-phthaloylglutamates were found to possess a noticeable piezoelectric activity.