Synthesis of Unprotected 2-Arylglycines by Transamination of Arylglyoxylic Acids with 2-(2-Chlorophenyl)glycine.

The transamination of a-keto acids with 2-phenylglycine is an effective methodology for directly synthesizing unprotected alpha-amino acids. However, the synthesis of 2-arylglycines by transamination is problematic because the corresponding products, 2-arylglycines, transaminate the starting arylglyoxylic acids. Herein, we demonstrate the use of commercially available L-2-(2-chlorophenyl)glycine as the nitrogen source in the transamination of arylglyoxylic acids, producing the corresponding 2-arylglycines without interference from the undesired self-transamination process.