Efficient, practical synthesis of symmetrically α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids

Ni(II)-complex derived from glycine Schiff base with 2-[N-(alpha-picolyl)amino]benzophenone (PABP) was found to be an ideal equivalent of nucleophilic glycine in the reactions with various alkyl halides affording an efficient, generalized and practically useful method for preparing symmetrically alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.