Abstract An atom-efficient and stereoselective synthesis has been developed for the preparation of α-2 H-labelled (S)-α-amino acids, starting from a novel chiral diketopiperazine scaffold. Efficient mono-alkylation of the chiral template afforded the (S)-substituted adducts with the nature of the electrophile significantly effecting the stereochemical outcome. Subsequent alkylation was totally selective producing the 1, 4-cis adduct as the sole ...