1-and 4-Substituted pyrrolidine-2, 3, 5-triones 5, 6 and 9 have been synthesized and hydrogenated to 3-hydroxy derivatives 10–12 with 17–91% ee using a 5 wt% Pt/Al2O3 catalyst in the presence of small amounts of cinchonidine. The influence of substituents on the enantioselectivity is discussed.