5-Amino-2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-8-carboxylic acid is a heteroaromatic compound containing a substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline ring system. The versatile functional handles, including an amine, carboxylic acid and tert-butoxycarbonyl group, confer diverse reactivity on this molecule.