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A straightforward synthesis of symmetrically α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids is presented. The key step of this process relies on the efficient double addition of Grignard reagents to acyl cyanohydrins to provide N-acyl amino alcohols selectively in good yields. The chemoselectivity of the reaction was modulated by the nature of the acyl moiety. Eleven amino acids were prepared, including the particularly simple divinylglycine, which is not easily accessible by using conventional methods.

The 1,2-dianion reactivity of the reagent generated from EtMgBr and titanium isopropoxide was illustrated when N-acyl cyanohydrins were used as substrates (>20 examples), giving both aminocyclopropane derivatives and 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. When the reaction was performed in diethyl ether, 5-hydroxy-1,4-diketones were the main product. Under specific conditions (use of tetrahydrofuran and a bulky carboxylic moiety), the cyclopropane derivatives were obtained in good yields. The observed dichotomy may be explained by a ring-opening of the five-membered titanacycle intermediate followed by a nonselective acyl addition.

A cheap, metal-free, and general method for the synthesis of the title compounds is presented.

The cyanohydrin substrates react with titanacyclopropanes, obtained in situ from Grignard reagents and Ti(OiPr)4, to produce 1,4-diketones.