The title natural product (−)-aiphanol has been prepared by total synthesis. A key step involved the asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-3, 5-dimethoxy-4-(methoxymethoxy) cinnamyl alcohol with the AD-mix-β to give triol (1R, 2R)-1-(3′, 5′-dimethoxy-4′- methoxymethoxyphenyl)-2, 3-dihydroxypropanol, the absolute stereochemistry of which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis of a readily available bromo-derivative. These ...