Intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of alkoxycarbonyl-substituted azomethine ylides to ester carbonyl was realized for the first time in the reaction of imines of O-acylsalicylic aldehyde with ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of Cu(tfacac)(2). The stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition is explained using DFT calculations.