Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Nonnatural α-Amino Acids

Key words

Schiff bases - nonnatural amino acids - benzophenone imines - alkylation - copper catalysis - asymmetric catalysis

Significance

Nonnatural amino acids are invaluable building blocks in synthetic organic chemistry. The authors have developed a copper-catalyzed approach for the synthesis of nonnatural α-amino acids.

Comment

This copper-catalyzed α-alkylation reaction­ ­provides the desired α-tetrasubstituted α-amino acids in moderate to high yields. The approach­ can be applied to a diastereoselective synthesis of α-tetrasubstituted α-amino acids by using a chiral auxiliary.