Divergent Chemical Synthesis of Prolines Bearing Fluorinated One-Carbon Units at the 4-Position via Nucleophilic 5-Endo-Trig Cyclizations

N-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)homoallyl]sulfonamides, prepared via ring opening of (S)-glycidyl ethers or 2-aryloxiranes with 1-(trifluoromethyl)vinyllithium, underwent intramolecular addition or SN2'-type reaction in the normally disfavored 5-endo-trig fashion, leading to 2-substituted 4-(trifluoromethyl)- or 4-(difluoromethylene)pyrrolidines. Both α- and β-face-selective hydrogenation of the 4-difluoromethylene group afforded syn- and anti-4-(difluoromethyl)pyrrolidines, respectively. These sequences, followed by the oxidation of a 2-hydroxymethyl or 2-aryl group, successfully provided prolines with a trifluoromethyl, difluoromethylene, or difluoromethyl group at the 4-position, including optically active prolines.