Iron Corroles and Porphyrins as Very Efficient and Highly Selective Catalysts for the Reactions of (alpha)-Diazo Esters with Amines

Iron corroles and porphyrins catalyze the reactions of amines with ethyl diazoacetate extremely efficiently, leading to complete and rapid conversion into N-substituted glycine ethyl esters by simultaneous addition of the substrates to the catalysts. The selectivity toward activation of the NH bonds is remarkable and quite different from other catalysts.