Racemic cis- and trans-1-aminoindane-2-carboxylic acids (3 and 5) were prepared from indene by chlorosulphonylisocyanate addition followed by ring opening and isomerisation. The intermediate racemic hydroxymethylated β-lactam 6 was resolved through the lipase-catalysed asymmetric acylation of the primary hydroxy group at the (R)-stereogenic centre. High enantioselectivities (E>200) were observed when