(3RS, 4SR)-3-hydroxypiperidine-4-carboxylic acid (14), related to the specific GABA agonist piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (isonipecotic acid), has been synthesized. The structures of 4, 10, 14, 18, and 20 have been established by 270-MHz'H NMR spectroscopic analyses. The affinity of the compounds for the GABA receptors and for the neuronal (synaptosomal) GABA uptake system in vitro has been measured. Compound 14 interacts selectively with the ...