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A variety of functionalized 2‐pyrrolidinones bearing N‐trifluoromethylphenyl moieties were prepared in moderate to good yields with high diastereoselectivity through copper(II)‐catalyst and base co‐catalyzed formal [4+1] cycloaddition of cinnamaldehyde nitrones with 1‐ethynylnaphthalen‐2‐ols in the presence of m‐CPBA as the oxidant. The triple bond of 1‐ethynylnaphthalen‐2‐ol served as one‐carbon synthon for the pyrrolidinone ring formation. Mechanistic studies revealed that m‐CPBA played an important role to interrupt the intramolecular O‐cyclization to afford the 2‐pyrrolidinones. Moreover, the reaction could be easily performed at gram scales and the obtained products were selectively converted into diverse pyrroline scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]