The (+/-) title compound was prepared to evaluate prior observations that certain gamma-aminobutyric acid (gamma Abu) congeners in the transoid disposition demonstrate gamma Abu receptor binding activity. It was prepared by a multistep sequence from (+/-)-methyl trans-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclobutanecarboxylate. In a sodium-independent binding assay, the specific binding of (+/-)-1 to synaptic membranes from rat brain tissue was 1/14 500 that of gamma Abu.