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

The transamination of α-keto acids with 2-phenylglycine is an effective methodology for directly synthesizing unprotected α-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.