A new two-step route to derivatives of homophenylalanine is presented. Cycloaddition of a cyclic nitrone glycine template with various styrene derivatives affords good yields of 5-substituted cycloadducts. One-step hydrogenolysis (three bonds) then affords the optically pure a-amino acids related to homophenylalanine. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.