Efficient synthesis of protected beta-phenylethylamines, enantiomerically pure protected beta-phenyl-alpha-benzylethylamines and beta-phenyl-alpha-isopropylethylamines using organozinc chemistry

The beta-aminoalkylzinc reagents 9a, 10 and 11 have been efficiently prepar ed using DMF as a solvent. Palladium-catalysed coupling of these reagents w ith substituted aryl iodides, under mild and convenient conditions, gives p rotected beta-phenylethylamines 6 in 72-80% yield (three examples), enantio merically pure protected beta-phenyl-alpha-benzylethylamines 7 in 53-61% yi eld (four examples), and protected beta-phenyl-alpha-isopropylethylamines 8 in 53-79% yield (four examples).