(R,R)-tartaric acid (AC), its dimethyl diester (ME), diainide (AM) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl diamide (TMA) as well as their model compounds, namely hydroxyacetic acid, its methyl ester and amide, have been studied in order to find general conformational preferences among (RR)-tartaric acid derivatives. A rotation around all rotable bonds have been scanned systematically using semiempirical methods for AC, ME, AM and TMA and ab-initio calculations for the model compounds have been carried out. In the case of AC and ME we found a tendency towards the extended conformation, which is in good agreement with available experimental data. For AM and TMA the results of semiempirical calculations are contradictory to each other. Conformations similar to those observed in the crystal structure were predicted by MNDO in the case of AM (the T conformer) and by PM3 in the case of TMA (the G" conformer). Energetically preferred conformational isomers are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the electrostatic CO/C*βH coplanar bond interactions. In T and G" rotamers, intramolecular hydrogen bonds leading to the formation of five-membered rings prevail, while in G + conformers, hydrogen bonded six-membered rings dominate.