Tandem oxidative radical decarboxylation-β-iodination of amino acids. Application to the synthesis of chiral 2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines

A mild and efficient procedure for the tandem decarboxylation-halogenation of α-amino acids is reported. The iodine is introduced at previously unfunctionalized positions, in good yields. The methodology has been used for the diastereoselective synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines.