Expedient Synthesis of Chiral α‐Amino Acids through Nickel‐Catalyzed Reductive Cross‐Coupling

A novel method for the synthesis of non-natural L- and D-amino acids by a Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling reaction is described. This strategy enables the racemization-free cross-coupling of serine/homoserine- derived iodides with aryl/acyl/alkyl halides. It provides convenient access to varieties of enantiopure and functionalized amino acids, which are important building blocks in bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals.