A range of N(alpha)-Fmoc-protected amino acids, including those that contain t-butyl moiety, have been synthesized by employing Fmoc-Cl utilizing the activated, commercial zinc dust-promoted synthesis of carbamates under neutral conditions. A general procedure is described that circumvents the oligomerization side reaction normally noticed in Schotten-Baumann conditions. It is a simple, convenient and clean method. Thus, Fmoc-amino acids are obtained in high yield (85-92%) and purity as checked by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and other physical methods.