Iron-catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling: an efficient route to α-quaternary α-amino acid derivatives.

Fully loaded: A coordinating activation strategy has been developed to furnish α-quaternary α-amino acids through the iron(III)-catalyzed oxidative functionalization of α-C(sp(3) )H bonds of α-tertiary α-amino acid esters. The reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope for both α-amino acids and nucleophiles (Nu) as well as good functional-group tolerance (see scheme, DTBP=di-tert-butyl peroxide, DCE=1,2-dichloroethane).