Development of a Rapid, Room-Temperature Dynamic Kinetic Resolution for Efficient Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Aryl Amino Acids

[reaction: see text] A rapid, highly efficient and general dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic alpha-aryl UNCAs with the dual-function catalysis of modified cinchona alkaloid was accomplished at room temperature. This DKR led to the development of a highly enantioselective catalytic method for the practical synthesis of a wide range of alpha-aryl and alpha-heteroaryl amino acids in 89-92% ee and 86-95% yield from racemic UNCAs.