The title amino acid was obtained by regiospecific ring-opening reaction of Boc-diprotected 1,4,7-triazacyclononane with (S)-2-beazyloxycarbonylamino-beta-lactone 80% isolated yield) followed by deprotection. It strongly binds transition metal ions like Zn and Cu-II and can be incorporated in peptide sequences without affecting the metal ion affinity of the triazamacrocycle. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.