Chemical deracemization and (S) to (R) interconversion of some fluorine-containing α-amino acids

► CF3-containing dl-amino acids are deracemized by complexation with a Ni(II) salt and a chiral ligand. ► CF3-containing l-amino acids are converted into the corresponding unnatural d-series. ► Optically pure free amino acids are released from the Ni(II) complex with recovery of the chiral ligand.