A general method to synthesize functionalized allyl α-amino acid derivatives through an irreversible oxy-2-azonia-Cope rearrangement is reported. In the presence of AlCl3, the reaction of imino ethyl glyoxalates with various β,γ-unsaturated ketones furnished the corresponding allyl α-amino acid derivatives. The key to the success of this method is the amide bond formation, which makes the rearrangement