Enantioselective Synthesis of Arylglycines from Arylboronic Acids

Significance

Chiral arylglycines are essential building blocks for the synthesis of various classes of biologically active compounds, especially antibiotics. This method offers a new convenient alternative to the existing Rh-catalyzed asymmetric addition of arylboronic acids to imines. The intermediate sulfinyl imino esters are easy to prepare and sufficiently stable. The reaction products can be readily converted into arylglycinols or arylglycine esters. The diastereoselectivity of the process is very high for both electron-rich and electron-poor aryl substituents.