Application of the Holmberg procedure (DCC/pyridine/p-TSA cat ) improves the yield of the direct condensation of phenols with phenylacetylglycine (1). Moreover, N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of 1 impedes an intramolecular reaction leading to an oxazolone, and allows the formation of stable aryl N-Boc phenaceturates. Then, mild cleavage of the Boc group with four equivalents of trifluoroacetic acid furnishes the aryl phenylacetylglycinate. This indirect method is more efficient than its direct analog in the case of phenols possessing electron-withdrawing substituents