Several N-acyl-P-chloroalanine esters have been prepared from the ester which was obtained by chlorination of L-cystine diester. Reaction of benzoyl-P-chloro-L-alanine ethyl ester with potassium phthalimide followed by acid hydrolysis yielded DL-diaminopropionic acid. Reaction of carbobenzoxy-achloro-L-alanine ethyl ester with potassium phthalimide followed by saponification and mild acid hydrolysis yielded a-carbobenzoxy-DL-diaminopropionic acid. The racemization took place during the amination step.