A method for the synthesis of α-amino acids by direct reductive carboxylation of aromatic imines with CO₂ is described. The protocol employs readily available commercial reagents and serves as a one-step alternative to the Strecker synthesis.

A synthesis of α-amino acids via direct reductive carboxylation of imines with carbon dioxide

Ajay A. Sathe,^a   Douglas R. Hartline^a and  Alexander T. Radosevich*^a  

* Corresponding authors

^a

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA 
E-mail: radosevich@psu.edu ;
Tel: +1 814 867 4268

Chem. Commun., 2013,49, 5040-5042

DOI: 10.1039/C3CC42057D
Received 21 Mar 2013, Accepted 16 Apr 2013
First published online 25 Apr 2013

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2013/CC/c3cc42057d