A chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of pharmacologically interesting 4- hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-one in three steps starting from 3-methoxycyclopent-2-en-1-one is described. Manganese (III) acetate-mediated acetoxylation followed by enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of α-acetoxy enone affords acetoxy enone 3 and hydroxy enone 4 with high enantiomeric excesses and in good yields. The reduction of the acetoxy and hydroxy ...