Enantioselective synthesis of α-deuterium labelled chiral α-amino acids via dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic azlactones.

Catalytic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic azlactones with EtOD using squaramide-based dimeric cinchona alkaloid organocatalysts is shown to be a highly effective strategy for the preparation of enantiomerically pure α-deuterated chiral α-amino acids.