Ring formation involving a Sere trig cyclization between a zinc enolat
e and a non activated double bond led to cis diastereoisomer of 3-subs
tituted prolines. This cyclization was achieved with transfer of chira
lity onto the C-2 carbon when nitrogen was protected by an alpha-methy
lbenzyl group. Reprotonation of the lithium enolate of cis derivative
yielded the trans diastereoisomer. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Els
evier Science Ltd