2,3-Disubstituted pyrrolidines are prepared by SmI2-pranoted cyclization of alpha-amino radicals generated from N-(alpha-benzotriazolylalkyl)alkenylamines containing a C=C bond activated by an electron withdrawing substituent. The diastereoselectivity of cyclization is moderate and depends on the nature of the substituent at the pyrrolidine 2-position. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.