Figure 1: Design for synthesis of unnatural chiral α-amino acids from natural α-amino acids.
From: Visible-light photoredox synthesis of unnatural chiral α-amino acids

(a) The previous palladium-catalyzed directed β-C-H functionalization of natural amino acid derivatives. (b) The previous palladium-catalyzed directed γ-C-H functionalization of natural amino acid derivatives. (c) Yu’s palladium-catalyzed ligand-controlled β-C-H arylations of alanine derivative. (d) Our strategy on decarboxylative couplings of aspartic acid and glutamic acid derivatives under visible-light assistance.