We report herein that the NaOMe-catalyzed reactions between the chiral glycine Schiff base (S)-4 with 2-cyanobenzaldehyde 3a provide for a convenient preparation of the novel α-(1-oxoisoindolin-3-yl)glycine 1 of high pharmaceutical potential. The reactions involve at least eight synthetic steps and can mechanistically be realized only with application of Ni(II) complexes described in this study.