The use of 1-tert-butoxy-2-tert-butoxycarbonyl-1, 2-dihydroisoquinoline (BBDI) as a tert- butoxycarbonylation reagent for acidic proton-containing substrates such as phenols, aromatic and aliphatic amines hydrochlorides, and aromatic carboxylic acids in the absence of a base is described. The reactions proceed chemoselectively in high yield under mild conditions.