Solvent-free stereoselective synthesis of β-aryl-β-amino acid esters by the Rodionov reaction using microwave irradiation

A rapid method for the title synthesis of β-aryl-β-amino acid esters was developed, and the absolute configurations of newly formed C-3 chiral centres in the major and minor diastereomers of the resulting ethyl N-[(S)-α-methylbenzyl]-β-amino-β-phenylpropionate were determined.