D-Glutamic acid (I) is treated with SOCl2 in EtOH to produce ethyl D-pyroglutamate (II). Further protection of (II) with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate yields the N-Boc pyroglutamate (III) (1). The lithiated derivative of (III) is alkylated with 2-(bromomethyl)benzothiophene (IV) to afford the trans alkylated isomer (V). Basic hydrolysis of (V) produces the N-Boc amino diacid (VI). Then, acidic Boc group cleavage in (VI), followed by treatment of the resultant hydrochloride salt with propylene oxide in MeOH leads to the free aminoacid (1,2).