Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Three-Component Reaction between Glyoxylic Acid, Sulfonamides and Arylboronic Acids for the Synthesis of alpha-Arylglycine Derivatives

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric three-component synthesis of alpha-arylglycine derivatives starting from glyoxylic acid, sulfonamides and arylboronic acids is reported. This novel, operationally simple method offers access to the alpha-arylglycine scaffold in good yields and enantioselectivities. The utilization of a tailored catalyst system enables the enantioselective synthesis of the desired alpha-arylglycines despite a fast racemic background reaction. The obtained products can be directly employed as building blocks in peptide synthesis.