The reaction between methyl N-acetyl-α,β-didehydroalaninate and cyclopentadiene in the presence of several chiral Lewis acids is studied and the results obtained are compared with those described for the reactions of the same diene with chiral N-acetyl-α,β-didehydroalaninates. In the presence of the titanium complex 24d methyl (1R,2R,4R) 2-acetamido-5-norbornen-2-carboxylate is preferably obtained. Thus, the reaction between methyl N-acetyl-(α,β-didehydroalaninate and cyclopentadiene is a good method for the synthesis of (1S, 2R, 4R) 2-aminonorbomane-2-carboxylic acid. This work was made possible by the financial support of the Direccion General de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnica (Project number PB88-0038). Peer reviewed