Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic Enantioselective Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of N-Aryl Glycine Esters with Terminal Alkynes.

A copper-catalyzed enantioselective cross-coupling of a Csp3-H moiety (N-aryl glycine ester) with a Csp-H component (terminal alkyne) using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant is described for the first time. The sustainable method provides an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to rapidly prepare a diverse array of optically active non-natural α-amino acids.