The radical 3a generated from N-vinylic trichloroacetamide la provided the 5-endo-trig cyclization product 2a in boiling toluene, whereas, at room temperature, gave the 4-exo-trig cyclization product 9. The results may be explained in terms of the reversibility of 4-exo cyclization. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.