A novel synthesis of chiral cyclic hydroxamic acids (4, 6, 8 and 10) related to cyclodipeptides is described. The crucial reduction of the nitro group of the N-nitroacetyl derivatives of (S)-α-amino acid esters is brought about by zinc-aq. ammonium chloride. The FeIII and CuII complexes of one such cyclic hydroxamic acid 10a have been prepared and their DNAse activity investigated