The title compound, benzyl -pyrazolidinylcarbonyl)pyrazolidine-2-carbo
xylate, C23H26N4O5, derived from the alpha-aza analogue of proline, cr
ystallizes with two independent molecules per asymmetric unit, adoptin
g two quasi mirror-image conformations. Because of steric hindrance an
d unfavourable polar interactions between the carbonyl groups connecte
d to the same pyrazolidine ring, the N atoms lose part of their sp(2)
character so that they are far from being planar and the N-CO bonds ar
e noticeably longer than in peptides.