Expedited Synthesis of α-Amino Acids by Single-Step Enantioselective α-Amination of Carboxylic Acids

Abstract

The conversion of C‒H bonds to C‒N bonds offers a sustainable and economical strategy for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds. However, challenges regarding the control of regio- and stereoselectivity currently limit the broad applicability of intermolecular C(sp3)‒H amination reactions. We address these restrictions by directed nitrene-mediated C‒H insertion using a metal-coordinating functional group. We report a highly stereocontrolled, iron-catalysed direct α-amination of abundant carboxylic acid feedstock molecules. The method provides in a single step high-value N-Boc-protected α-monosubstituted and α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids, which can then be immediately used for applications including solution- and solid-phase peptide synthesis. This method fulfils important aspects of sustainability by being highly step efficient and utilizing non-toxic, Earth-abundant iron as the catalytic metal.

Publisher

Nature Research

Publication Date

3-23-2023

Publication Title

Nature Synthesis

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Document Type

Article

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44160-023-00267-w

Language

English

Format

text

Link to Full Text

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