Highly Efficient Catalytic Synthesis ofα-Amino Acids under Phase-Transfer Conditions with a Novel Catalyst/Substrate Pair

A facile and fast enantioselective synthesis of α-amino acids with high ee values was achieved by the asymmetric alkylation of the glycine derivative 1 under phase-transfer conditions with (R)- or (S)- 2-amino-2′-hydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl (NOBIN; see scheme). The ee value of the catalyst can be as little as 40 % without decreasing the ee value of the amino acid products. This occurs as a result of a significant positive nonlinear effect in the alkylation reaction.