A synthetic route to artificial chiral α-amino acids featuring a 3,4-dihydroisoquinolone core through a Rh(iii)-catalyzed functionalization of allyl groups in chiral Ni(ii) complexes

The first asymmetric synthetic route to artificial α-amino acids with a 3,4-dihydroisoquinolone skeleton was elaborated via a straightforward Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation reaction.