Alkylation of N-Boc-L-cysteine tert-butyl ester (I) with the chiral tosylate (II) gave thioether (III). The N-benzyloxycarbonyl protecting group of (III) was then cleaved by transfer hydrogenolysis using ammonium formate in the presence of Pearlman's catalyst to afford amine (IV). Condensation of this amine with the thioacetimidate (V) gave rise to amidine (VI). The N-Boc and tert-butyl ester protecting groups of (VI) were finally removed by treatment with a solution of HCl in dioxan.