Synthesis of Homoallylic Amines via the Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Coupling of Amino Acid Derivatives

Protected homoallylic amines are synthesized by the decarboxylative coupling of alpha-amino acid derivatives. The catalytic C-C bond-forming reaction relies on the bioinspired decarboxylative metalation of alpha-amino acids to produce alpha-amino anion equivalents. The alpha-amino anion equivalents are intercepted by pi-allyl palladium electrophiles to produce substituted homoallylic amines.