Abstract Bis [(3'-methoxycarbonyl) phenyl] iodonium bromide (4a), bis (4'-methoxyphenyl) iodonium iodide (4b) and bis (4'-acetamidophenyl) iodonium iodide (4c) were employed for the first time in the arylation of a-amino acid methyl esters. Yields of the synthesised products 5, 6 and 7 were good to high. These were then hydrolyzed to the corresponding N- aryl a-amino acids 8 and 9. The chiral integrity of the amino acids was maintained ...