The title compound, 2-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-7-azaindo
lizine-5,8-dione, C8H12N2O2, is bicyclic. The six-membered ring has a boat
configuration. The five-membered ring shares one of the prow points and is
hinged towards the open part of the boat. Together the rings appear to adop
t a slight dish shape. The methyl group is on the open-dish side and the hy
droxyl group is trans to it. Hydrogen bonds in the crystal knit molecules i
nto corrugated layers.