Copper-catalyzed C–N coupling reactions of aryl halides with α-amino acids under focused microwave irradiation

We have developed an efficient method for the preparation of enantiopure N-aryl-α-amino acids via copper-catalyzed N-arylation of α-amino acids and aryl halides under microwave irradiation. This protocol only needs less than 30 min to obtain the products, which are far superior to those obtained under conventional heating.