To a solution of 3-Fluoro-4-nitrotoluene (0.7 g, 4.5 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) were added (S)-3-Amino-5-phenyl-pentanoic acid ethyl ester hydrochloride (1.2 g, 4.5 mmol) and DIPEA (1.6 g, 9.0 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. The reaction mixture was then diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with water (×4). The organic phase was then dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated to afford an orange solid. The resulting residue was Purified by silica gel prep TLC using 4:1 Hexanes:ethyl acetate as an eluent to afford 0.9 g of the desired product.
