A flexible stereoselective route to synthesize both enantiomers of the highly functionalized substituted tetrahydrofurans and α, β-unsaturated-δ-lactones, goniothales diol, altholactone, and isoaltholactone, from readily available cinnamyl alcohol is described. This approach derived its asymmetry from Sharpless catalytic asymmetric epoxidation and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions. The resulting diols were produced in high ...