3-Aza-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-7-carboxylic acids (named BTAa) derived from (R,R)-, (S,S)-, or meso-tartaric acid and natural (l), unnatural (d), or unusual α-amino acids are described as conformationally constrained dipeptide isosteres. The general strategy developed for their preparation has required the trasformation of the amino acids into the corresponding N-benzylamino alcohols, followed by the PyBroP-promoted condensation with the monomethyl ester of the suitable 2,3-di-O-isopropylidenetartaric acid. Oxidation of the hydroxy group to aldheyde and subsequent acid-catalyzed trans-acetalization with the two hydroxy groups of the tartaric acid moiety provided 3-aza-2-oxo-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-7-carboxylic acid methyl esters [named BTAa(O)] in good yield and, in most cases, as single enantiopure diastereoisomers. This strategy has been applied to the preparation of BTAa(O) starting from (R,R)-, (S,S)-, or meso-tartaric acid and glycine, l- and d-phenylalanine, l- and d-alanine, and (±)-phen...