“…Chemicals and solvents were purchased from commercial suppliers and used as received unless stated otherwise [Sigma Aldrich: potassium carbonate (99%), anisole (99%); LiAlH 4 (1 M in diethyl ether), trifluoroacetic acid (99%), Boc-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (98%), L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (98%), Amberlyst A21 (4.6 eq./kg dry weight); BLDpharm: Boc-4-iodo-D-phenylalanine (98%); Fluorochem: O,N-dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (98%), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (99%), ethyl(hydroxyimino)cyanoacetate (98%), (carbethoxyethylidene)triphenylphosphorane (94%), succinic anhydride (99%); Carl Roth: triethylamine (99.5%), hydrochloric acid (37%); Oxchem: phenylboronic acid (95%); ACROS organics: diisopropylethylamine (98%); ChemLab: acetonitrile (HPLC grade)]. According to a reported literature procedure [69], L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride was neutralized by addition of sodium carbonate in water and extraction of the aqueous phase with ethyl acetate yielded free L-phenylalanine methyl ester. Analytical thin layer chromatography was performed on pre-coated aluminium plates (Merck, silica gel 60, F 254 ) and spots were visualized with UV light (254 nm) or potassium permanganate stain.…”