Modular approach to the design of nucleophilic glycine equivalents with tailorable physico-chemical properties

This short review introduces to the reader the innovative modular approach to the design of new generation of nucleophilic glycine equivalents, for the general asymmetric synthesis of alpha-AAs. This approach, allowing for rational tailoring of physico-chemical properties and reactivity of the nucleophilic glycine equivalents, offers an inexpensive and synthetically advantageous alternative to existing glycine derivatives. Further research on application of these modular derivatives may provide for the development of truly practical methods for large-scale preparations of alpha-AAs under operationally convenient conditions.