Preparation of α-amino acids: via Ni-catalyzed reductive vinylation and arylation of α-pivaloyloxy glycine

This work emphasizes easy access to α-vinyl and aryl amino acids via Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of bench-stable N-carbonyl-protected α-pivaloyloxy glycine with vinyl/aryl halides and triflates. The protocol permits the synthesis of α-amino acids bearing hindered branched vinyl groups, which remains a challenge using the current methods. On the basis of experimental and DFT studies, simultaneous addition of glycine α-carbon (Gly) radicals to Ni(0) and Ar-Ni(ii) may occur, with the former being more favored where oxidative addition of a C(sp2) electrophile to the resultant Gly-Ni(i) intermediate gives a key Gly-Ni(iii)-Ar intermediate. The auxiliary chelation of the N-carbonyl oxygen to the Ni center appears to be crucial to stabilize the Gly-Ni(i) intermediate.