The first example of an operationally simple direct regio- and diastereoselective introduction of N-protected alpha-amino acids into Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) acetates is reported. The DABCO-catalyzed reaction of MBH acetates with 2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5-one affords N-protected alpha-amino acids regioselectively in excellent yield (81-93%) with high diastereoselectivity (>92%) at ambient temperature. The synthetic protocol involves S(N)2'-S(N)2' reaction and water-driven ring-opening cascades in a one-pot procedure, which are salient features of the present investigation.