2,3-Didehydro-1,2-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-6-methoxypiperidine (4), prepared fr
om L-lysine by using electrochemical oxidation, was cyclopropanated with hi
gh diastereoselectivity (96.6% de), and the cyclopropanated product was tra
nsformed to optically active 2,3-methanopipecolic acid (1). In this transfo
rmation, the 6-methoxy group of 4 was found to be an effective chiral auxil
iary. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.