The current invention offers a process for the production of N-Boc-2-amino-3,3-dimethylbutyric acid by a reaction of tert-Leucine with di-tert-butyl-dicarbonate, the process comprising (i) contacting the tert-Leucine with di-tert-butyl-dicarbonate in an aqueous medium, optionally comprising a first organic solvent, in the presence of an inorganic base, (ii) optionally removing the first organic solvent, (iii) optionally extracting the resulting N-Boc-2-amino-3,3-dimethylbutyric acid into a second organic solvent, (iv) isolating the product by precipitation from the reaction mixture at acidic pH, and (v) optionally reuse the first and/or second organic solvents recovered from step (ii) and/or step (iv) for the next production cycle. The process is sufficiently short, uses preferably environmental friendly solvents, avoids waste and leads to good yields.