In a novel Michael-type reaction L-ascorbic acid (1) undergoes addition to acrolein to give the tricyclic hemiacetal lactone 3. The constitution and relative configuration of 3 was studied by a combination of NMR and IR spectroscopy. Ultimately, the structure of 3 was determined by X-ray crystallography. The absolute stereochemistry follows from the known chirality of C- 4 and C-5 of L-ascorbic acid. A mechanism for the reaction, including its steric course, is ...