Protocols for the synthesis of diverse pentacarboxycyclopentadienes are described. Starting from readily available pentacarbomethoxycyclopentadiene, transesterification offers single-step access to aliphatic ester derivatives, while treatment with amines produces mono- or diamides. For less nucleophilic alcohols, an alternative procedure involving the in situ generation and esterification of a putative cyclopentadiene pentaacid chloride has been developed.