Synthesis of α-aryl esters and nitriles: deaminative coupling of α-aminoesters and α-aminoacetonitriles with arylboronic acids.

Transition-metal-free synthesis of α-aryl esters and nitriles using arylboronic acids with α-aminoesters and α-aminoacetonitriles, respectively, as the starting materials has been developed. The reaction represents a rare case of converting C(sp(3))-N bonds into C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) bonds. The reaction conditions are mild, demonstrate good functional-group tolerance, and can be scaled up.