The 2-methoxyiminoacyl-mediated arylation of substituted phenylalanines has been examined. Selective monoarylation at the ortho position was achieved using pyridone ligands which decelerate the arylation process. Density functional theory (DFT) study of a continuous C−H arylation process that included the first and second arylation stage was performed. The computational result shows that the introduction of a pyridone ligand obviously disfavors the second arylation stage, which directly contributes to the selectivity between the mono/diarylated products. Furthermore, results of the kinetic isotope effect and a control experiment are agreed with DFT study.

The direct acetoxylation of substituted benzylamines has been accomplished through methoxyiminoacyl (MIA)‐mediated Pd‐catalyzed C−H functionalization. A diverse array of phenylalanine substrates is amenable to this protocol, providing acetoxylation benzylamine derivatives with good to high efficiency. Computational results revealed that HOAc enhanced the stability of Pd−O bond, which obviously accelerate the reductive elimination step of the acetoxylation process.