Direct introduction of glycine/mercaptoacetic acid units into electron-poor alkenes: a novel route to functionally rich α-amino/α-mercapto acids

The first example of an operationally simple direct introduction of glycine/mercaptoacetic acid units into electron-poor alkenes is reported. In this protocol, Lewis acid-catalyzed Michael addition of activated glycine or mercaptoacetic acid, that is 2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5-one or 2-methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-oxathiolan-5-one, to various electron-poor alkenes in water/1,4-dioxane (1:2, v/v) solvent system diastereoselectively affords the corresponding functionally rich α-amino acids or α-mercapto acids, respectively, in high yields at ambient temperature.