Tandem oxidative radical decarboxylation-β-iodination of amino acids.: Application to the synthesis of chiral 2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines

A mild and efficient procedure for the tandem decarboxylation-halogenation of alpha-amino acids is reported. The iodine is introduced at previously unfunctionalized positions, in good yields. The methodology has been used for the diastereoselective synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.