Efficient Synthesis of α-Aryl-/Heteroaryl-Substituted β-Amino Acids via Ni(II) Complex through the Suzuki Coupling Reaction

We described a synthesis method by first using chlorotrimethylsilane as the activator to brominate the Ni(II) complex of the β-alanine Schiff’s base [β-AlaNi(II)PABA] 1 and developed it to prepare β-amino acids 5. The procedure involves a Suzuki coupling reaction between boric acids and the bromoenone 2, followed by hydrogenation and hydrolysis. This is the first report of the application of the Ni (II) complex [β-AlaNi(II)PABA], which represents an attractive route to afford α-aryl-/heteroaryl-substituted β-amino acids.