An Efficient and Practical Synthesis of l-α-Amino Acids Using (R)-Phenylglycinol as a Chiral Auxiliary

Abstract l-α-Amino acids including l-α-arylglycines were conveniently and stereoselectively synthesized via the α-amino carbonitriles given by the Strecker reaction of (R)-2-amino-2-phenylethanol with aldehydes and hydrogen cyanide. The stereoselectivity of these α-amino carbonitriles was thermodynamically controlled.