Highly diastereoselective synthesis of quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids by addition of benzylzinc reagents to chiral imines of trifluoropyruvate

Abstract

An effective and facile method for highly diastereoselective synthesis of quaternary α-trifluoromethyl α-amino acids was developed in good yields with high diastereoselectivity (dr >20:1) via MgCl 2-accelerated addition of benzylzinc reagents (Knochel type organozinc reagents) to ( R)-phenylglycinol methyl ether based imines of trifluoropyruvate.