Can an ethyl ester of L-proline be synthesised from the amino acid and ethyl alcohol in toluene with azeotropic distillation of water? I was told that the ethyl ester of L-proline may not be synthesized from L-proline and ethyl alcohol in refluxing toluene, with an acid catalyst such as p-toluensulfonic acid for example, because toluene and ethanol and in this case water as well form an azeotrope. Is this true? 

I do not have a supply of pure thionyl chloride, and that's why I am trying to use this route. I appreciate if anyone may answer this question.
I think this is unlikely to work under the conditions described as the catalytic PTSA is tied up as its proline salt. If you reflux under D-S conditions you will just remove the EtOH due to the azeotrope with Toluene.