Facile Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Amino Acids Employing Chiral Ligand-Mediated Asymmetric Addition Reactions of Phenyllithium with Imines

A three-step methodology involving an external chiral ligand-mediated asymmetric addition of phenyllithium to an anisidine imine, oxidative removal of N-PMP group, and finally oxidative conversion of the phenyl group to a carboxyl group provides a facile synthesis of optically pure α-amino acid derivatives bearing a bulky α-substituent.