Efficient synthesis of protected β-phenylethylamines, enantiomerically pure protected β-phenyl-α-benzylethylamines and β-phenyl-α-isopropylethylamines using organozinc chemistry

The β-aminoalkylzinc reagents 9a, 10 and 11 have been efficiently prepared using DMF as a solvent. Palladium-catalysed coupling of these reagents with substituted aryl iodides, under mild and convenient conditions, gives protected β-phenylethylamines 6 in 72–80% yield (three examples), enantiomerically pure protected β-phenyl-α-benzylethylamines 7 in 53–61% yield (four examples), and protected β-phenyl-α-isopropylethylamines 8 in 53–79% yield (four examples).