Abstract Remarkable diastereoselection, with (E)-alkenyl alkyl acetal giving selectively the erythro α-alkyl-β-alkoxyaldehyde, and (Z)-acetal leading preferentially to the threo isomer, is observed in the 1, 3-O-to-C-alkyl migration reaction of 1-alkenyl alkyl acetals catalyzed by boron trifluoride etherate.