Substituted cyclopentenes, their preparation and their use for chiral scaffolds

3,4-Disubstituted-1-cyclopentene compounds, in substantially enantiopure form, have the relative stereochemistry according to formula (1A) or (1B)including the opposite enantiomers thereof, whereinR1 is eitherCOOX, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, H, and a salt-forming cation, orCH2OH, whererin the hydroxy group is optionally protected;R2 is H or a protecting group;R3 is H or alkyl, andR4 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, and aralkyl; or, in the case of formula (1A), R2 and R4 are linked to form an oxazolidonone ring.These compounds can be used to prepare a series of complementary stereochemcially varied cyclopentane scaffolds.