Abstract: Aconvenient synthesis of optically active α, α -diphenyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanol (1)starting from L-proline, based on different N-protections, was described. Different N-pro-tections had no effect on the optical purity of compound 1, but gave different chemical yields. The yield was the lowest when PhCH₂, was employed for N-protection. An investiga-tion on the effect of N-protection on the chemical yield and the optical purity of compound 1led to a convenient preparation of the new chiral oxazolidinone 3. The structure of 3 was identified with 1H NMR, ¹³CNMR, MSand IR.

Key words: Synthesis, α, α'-Diphenyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanol, Oxazolidinone