3-Alkyl pyrrolidones 9 were synthesized in good yield and high diastereoselectivity by oc-alkylation of the new chiral non-racemic lactam 8 derived from (R)-(-)-phenylglycinol. After debenzylation and introduction of an electron-withdrawing group, 3-methylpyrrolidone 10 is easily hydrolyzed in a basic medium to produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue 13. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.