Functional Primary Amines and Diamines from α-Aminoacids. A Concise Route to Substituted 2-Aminotetralins

S-Phthalimidomethyl xanthates derived from various alpha-amino acids add efficiently to a range of unactivated alkenes to give a variety of highly functionalized, protected amines. In the case of phenylalanine and tyrosine derived xanthates, the adducts can be further converted into the rare 4-substituted 2-aminotetralines by a radical ring closure onto the aromatic ring.