Tandem ring-opening decarboxylation of cyclopropane hemimalonates with sodium azide: a short route to γ-aminobutyric acid esters.

Cyclopropane hemimalonates, when treated with sodium azide, undergo a tandem ring-opening decarboxylation to produce γ-azidobutyric acids in good yields. These adducts were hydrogenated to form γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) methyl esters.