Abstract
(1S,3R)-1-Aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD), a potent agonist of metabotropic glutamate receptors, was synthesized from L-serine. The chiral quaternary center was constructed by C–H insertion of the alkylidenecarbene, this being generated by the reaction between lithiotrimethylsilyldiazomethane and the corresponding ketone.