(S)-Malic acid 2 is transformed into (3S)-3-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone (8) using hexafluoro- acetone as protecting and activating agent. Two alternative routes were developed; key step of both routes is the intramolecular aminolytic cleavage of the lactone ring of the intermediate, 5-(2-aminoethyl)-2, 2-bis (trifluoromethyl)-1, 3-dioxolan-4-one (7).