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1-(4,4-Diethoxybutyl)-3-alkylureas undergo intramolecular cyclization in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid and various phenols, leading to the new N-alkyl-2-arylpyrrolidine-1-carboxamides with moderate to excellent yields. It was found that these compounds undergo spontaneous solid-phase epimerization at room temperature. Advantages of the proposed approach are mild reaction conditions and no need for expensive reagents or catalysts.