The esterification of N2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-D,L-glutamine (I) with methyl iodide and KHCO3 in DMF gives the corresponding methyl ester (II), which is cyclized to benzyl D,L-2,6-dioxo-3-piperidinecarbamate (III) by heating. The hydrogenolysis of (III) with H2 over Pd/C in methanol yields D,L-2-aminoglutarimide (IV), which is condensed with 2-chloroethyl isocyanate (V) in DMF affording 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2,6-dioxo-3-piperidyl)urea (VI). Finally, this compound is nitrosated in the usual way with NaNO2 in formic acid.