A series of 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2-carboxylic acids have been synthesized in good yields and purities via cycloaddition of maleimides to polymer supported azomethine ylides. N-Acylation of the resulting cycloadduct enables the synthesis of diverse molecules based on a highly functionalized rigid template. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.