2-Fluoroethanol (I) was oxidized under Swern conditions to afford 2-fluoroacetaldehyde (II), which was condensed with tert-butyl 3-nitropropionate (III), yielding the hydroxy ester (IV). Hydrogenation of the nitro group of (IV) over Raney nickel produced amine (V). Subsequent coupling of N-carbobenzoxy-L-valine (VI) with amine (V) in the presence of EDC and HOBt furnished amide (VII). The hydroxyl group of (VII) was then oxidized to the corresponding ketone (VIII) by using Dess-Martin periodinane. Finally, the tert-butyl ester was cleaved by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid.