A simple and economical method for the synthesis of highly functionalised alpha-amino nitriles, precursors to alpha-arylglycines with high optical purity is reported. For this purpose, (R) or (S)-2-amino-2-phenylethanol were used as chiral auxiliaries in a 1,3 Strecker reaction. Reactions were studied with a broad range of reagent systems for the generation of cyano nucleophile. Methodology has been extended for the synthesis of (S)-alpha-(2-iodo-5-nitrophenyl)glycine, (S)-alpha-(4-methoxyphenyl)glycine and (R)-beta-(4-methoxyphenyl)alanine. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. ALI rights reserved.