Coupling reaction between electron-rich 2-morpholino-4(3H)-pyrimidinone and nucleophilic side chains of several natural α-amino acids promoted by phosphonium salt has been developed to prepare new optically active pyrimidin-4-yl amino acids. The best results were obtained using a two-step method through the easily available benzotriazolyl-1-oxy intermediate. A detailed optimization study of this reaction is discussed.