Regiospecific alkylation of histidine and histamine at C-2

The first regiospecific synthesis of 2-alkyl-L-histidines and 2-alkylhistamines starting from fully protected L-histidine and histamine via silver catalyzed radical decarboxylative oxidation of alkylcarboxylic acids by ammonium persulfate in 10% H2SO4 is described.