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A rapid and efficient method for the synthesis of N-carbamoyl-L-amino acids is reported. The procedure, involving the reaction between urea and α-amino acids sodium salts, was performed under microwave conditions using an unmodified domestic microwave oven. A careful study of the operative conditions indicated proline (1d) as the less reactive substrate and phenylglycine (1e) as the more reactive one among all the α-amino acids tested. Substitution of urea with potassium cyanate produced a low conversion into the corresponding N-carbamoyl derivative, and a possible explanation of this result is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]