Triflic Anhydride Promoted Decarboxylative Functionalization of α‑Amino Acids

The decarboxylation of naturally abundant amino acids,
followed
by subsequent inter- or intramolecular reaction cascades, enables
the rapid synthesis of a variety of diverse and high-value amine derivatives.
Previous methods have relied heavily on transition metals, involved
tedious procedures, or required harsh conditions. Herein, we present
a novel reaction cascade for the decarboxylation and nucleophilic
functionalization of α-amino acids. This method is characterized
by being transition-metal-free, convenient to operate, environmentally
friendly and having mild conditions.