The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl) amide to a range of β- fluoroaryl-α, β-unsaturated esters gave the corresponding β-amino esters with high diastereoselectivity and in good isolated yields. Sequential treatment of the resultant β- fluoroaryl-β-amino esters under optimised hydrogenolysis conditions, followed by ester hydrolysis with 2.0 M aq HCl, provided access to a range of β-fluoroaryl-β-amino acids in ...