Development of a rapid, room-temperature dynamic kinetic resolution for efficient asymmetric synthesis of alpha-aryl amino acids.

[reaction: see text] A rapid, highly efficient and general dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic alpha-aryl UNCAs with the dual-function catalysis of modified cinchona alkaloid was accomplished at room temperature. This DKR led to the development of a highly enantioselective catalytic method for the practical synthesis of a wide range of alpha-aryl and alpha-heteroaryl amino acids in 89-92% ee and 86-95% yield from racemic UNCAs.