(Phosphonomethyl)phenylalanine (Pmp) and (phosphonodifluoromethyl)phenylalanine (F 2 Pmp) as well as their β-amino acid congeners were prepared as a protecting variant amenable to the peptide synthesis from readily available 2-benzyl-1,3-propandiols possessing either a diethylphosphonomethyl- or diethylphosphonodifluoromethyl functionality at the para-position via the lipase-catalyzed desymmetrization.