Abstract A synthetic approach to both enantiomers of the secondary alcohols [Ph (CH 2) n CH (OH) CXF 2 (n= 0− 2) C 6 H 13 (CH 2) n CH (OH) CFX 2 (n= 0 or 2) and CXF 2 CH (OH) CH 2 CO 2 Et [X= H or Cl], involving the stereoselective hydrolysis of ester derivatives, is described. The absolute configurations of these difluoromethylated or chlorodifluoromethylated molecules were determined.