Enantioselective decarboxylation–reprotonation of an α-amino malonate derivative as a route to optically enriched cyclic α-amino acid

Chiral tertiary amines have been examined as enantioselective decarboxylation–reprotonation reagents for the synthesis of α-amino acids via α-aminomalonates. N-Acetyl pipecolic acid ethyl ester, as a model compound, was obtained in good yield and 52% enantiomeric excess using a quinidine derived base.