The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of peptides using an excess of an activated carboxylic component to acyl ate an amino component, wherein after the acylation an Ii amine comprising a free anion or a latent anion is used as a scavenger of residual activated carboxylic functions. This process is useful for the preparation of oligo- and polypeptides and, more generally, in the preparation of compounds containing one or more amide bonds