pH-Dependent chemoselective synthesis of alpha-amino acids. Reductive amination of alpha-keto acids with ammonia catalyzed by acid-stable iridium hydride complexes in water.

An acid-stable hydride complex [Cp*IrIII(bpy)H]+ {1, Cp* = eta5-C5Me5, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine} serves as the active catalyst for the highly chemoselective synthesis of alpha-amino acids by reductive amination of alpha-keto acids with aqueous NH3 and HCOO- in water at pH 5-8. pH-dependent catalytic 15N- and 2H-double-labeling has also been accomplished by using 15NH3 and DCOONa, which are ideal amine and hydride ion sources, respectively.