Optically active samples of the N-protected 1,3-cyclobutane amino acid
s 1 and 2 were prepared from alpha-pinene. The synthesis of 1 is enant
iodivergent insofar as both optical antipodes of the product can be pr
epared from the same alpha-pinene enantiomer. Single crystal X-ray dif
fraction studies of derivatives of 1 reveal these compounds can have e
xtended conformations. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.