Abstract Additions of ethyl or tert-butyl diazoacetates to 4-substituted cyclopentenes 6 and 17 under dirhodium tetraacetate/tetraoctanoate catalysis led to mixtures of tert-butyl endo, exo-and exo, exo-3-carboxyl (aryl) bicyclo [3.1. 0] hexane-6-carboxylates 7 and 18 in yields of 54− 90% from which exo, exo-diastereomers were isolated in yields of 39− 63%. Diester exo, exo-7 was saponified and converted into diaryl diesters exo, exo-9a, b in overall ...