Application of samarium diiodide (SmI2)-induced reduction of (gamma)-acetoxy-(alpha),(beta)-enoates with (alpha)specific kinetic electrophilic trapping for the synthesis of amino acid derivatives

(gamma)-Acetoxy-(alpha),(beta)-enoates were easily reduced by samarium diiodide (SmI2) in THF to generate samarium dienolates which were kinetically trapped with ease at their (alpha)-positions by electrophiles (proton, aldehydes or ketones) to yield (E)-alkene dipeptide isosteres or (gamma)-amino acid derivatives in high chemical yields.