The reaction of phthalimidocarboxylic acid ethyl ester (I) with 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol (II) in THF gives N-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]phthalimide (III), which is oxidized with CrO3/sulfuric acid in acetone yielding 2-(phthalimidoethoxy)acetic acid (IV). The condensation of (IV) with L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine benzyl ester (V) by means of phenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA) and triethylamine in DMF gives N-[2-(2-phthalimidoethoxy)acetyl]-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine benzyl ester (VI), which is finally debenzylated by hydrogenation over Pd/C in acetic acid.