Palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic substitution: synthesis of α- and β-amino acids

Methodology has been established for the formation of enantiomerically enriched α-amino acids using palladium-catalysed allylic amination. The formation of enantiomerically enriched allylamines has been achieved with high enantioselectivity. Oxidative cleavage of the allylamines provides arylglycine and glutamic acid derivatives. Additionally, enantiomerically enriched β-amino acids have been prepared in high enantiomeric excess. Palladium-catalysed asymmetric allylic substitution is used as the key synthetic transformation.