The present invention discloses cyclopentane carboxylate compounds. The 1-hydrocarbyl-2-acyloxy-cyclopentane carboxylates according to the invention have a general formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which are identical or different, are independently selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.20cycloalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20aryl, C.sub.7-C.sub.20alkaryl and C.sub.7-C.sub.20aralkyl. The present invention also discloses a process as well as intermediate compounds for preparing the compounds of formula (I), and use of the compounds (I) as electron donor in the preparation of catalysts for propylene polymerization.