trans-(2S.5S)-(1,1-Diphenylmethyl)pyrrolidine has been prepared from the corresponding diester in four steps and 54% overall yield. Key steps involve the nucleophilic addition of an organomagnesium reagent to a carbonyl compound promoted by cerium(III) chloride and the reductive removal of benzylic trimethylsilyloxyl groups with Me3SiCl-Nal-MeCN and water. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.