The first stages in the synthesis of acromelic acid analogues from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline are described. An enamine alkylation was used to stereospecifically introduce the C-3 substituent, Grignard addition to a ketone or Pd(0) catalysed cross-coupling procedures adding C-4 aryl substituents for further manipulation. A number of versatile intermediates were generated. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.