Phosphoric acid derivatives operate as effective catalysts for the synthesis of glycines in high yield through multicomponent coupling reactions of nitrodiazoesters, anilines, and indoles. This interesting process requires double polarity reversal, or umpolung, of the ester functionality: two nucleophiles undergo addition to the carbon alpha to an ester. Modest control over the absolute stereochemistry of the glycine products is attainable under the influence of chiral BINOL-based phosphoric-acid-derived catalysis.Aryl glycines are a widespread and important functional group in many natural products and drug targets. [1] For example, since the discovery of vancomycin, many aryl glycine containing glycopeptides such as oritavancin, dalbavancin, and telavancin, have been identified as potent antibiotics. [1] As such, methods for the improved and broad synthesis of aryl glycines remain an unmet demand. [2] We recently discovered an innovative approach toward aryl glycine construction: a multicomponent urea-catalysed NÀH insertion/ arylation reaction of nitrodiazoesters (Scheme 1). [3] One un-[a] S. Scheme 1. Double carbonyl umpolung.Scheme 2. Insertion-arylation reactions of nitrodiazo compounds catalysed by hydrogen-bond donors.