Palladium-catalyzed enantioselective three-component synthesis of α-arylglycine derivatives from glyoxylic acid, sulfonamides and aryltrifluoroborates.

A palladium-catalyzed enantioselective three-component reaction of glyoxylic acid, sulfonamides and aryltrifluoroborates is described. This process provides modular access to the important α-arylglycine motif in moderate to good yields and enantioselectivies. The formed α-arylglycine products constitute useful building blocks for the synthesis of peptides or arylglycine-containing natural products.