This lecture will provide an overview our lab's interest in making amino acids and peptides using metal-hydride catalysis. For example, by using Rh–H catalysis, we couple α-nitroesters and alkynes to prepare α-amino-acid precursors. This atom-economical strategy generates two contiguous stereocenters, with high enantio- and diastereocontrol. In this transformation, the alkyne undergoes isomerization to generate a Rh<sup>III</sup>–π-allyl electrophile, which is trapped by an α-nitroester nucleophile. We'll also discuss the use of Rh-H catalysis to enable cyclic peptide construction.

Making amino acids and peptides by metal-hydride catalysis

ACS Spring 2022

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