A one-pot synthesis of 3-amino-3-arylpropionic acids

3-Aminopropionic acids (β-amino acids) are biologically active compounds of interest in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry. Twenty-one 3-amino-3-arylpropionic acids were synthesized via a facile one-pot synthesis. In addition, a series of mechanistic studies have been performed to optimize the production of these β-amino acids. The reaction mechanism of this one-pot synthesis of β-amino acids, as well as the electronic effect of para-substitution and the influence of solvent polarity on the proposed reaction mechanism are discussed.