Diastereoselective hydrogenation of homochiral fumaramides 1 derived from (2R)- Oppolzer's sultam was observed by analysis of the 1H NMR spectra of the succinamide mixtures with de's of 77–88%. Reduction of these succinamides using LiAlH4 gave the corresponding (2S)-butane-1, 4-diols and established that addition of hydrogen takes place selectively on the re-face of fumaramides 1. The stereoselectivity was confirmed by ...