A convenient, multigram synthesis of a novel α-amino acid (2S)-2-amino-3-(1H-4-indolyl) propanoic acid (1a), is reported. An Fmoc–t-Boc derivative of this novel regioisomer of the natural aromatic amino acid tryptophan could be readily incorporated into bioactive synthetic peptides using standard solid phase synthesis. The synthesis featured the use of Schöllkopf chiral auxiliary reagents for chirality induction during a key step.