[1] Given its potency and selectivity, it is a useful ligand for studying the role of kainate receptors in the central nervous system.

[2] SYM-2081 can be prepared through diastereomeric mixture via enzymatic synthesis, but the yield of this reaction is small.

[3] SYM-2081 can be produced at a multi-gram scale by starting with (S)-1-t-butoxycarbonyl-5-t-butyldiphenylsilyoxymethylpyrrolidine-2-one and treating it with one equivalent of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at -78 °C.

[3] Tetrabutylammonium fluoride was used for its primary alcohol to selectively remove the tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) protecting group.

[3] This intermediate was hydrolyzed with lithium hydroxide in aqueous THF.