An efficient asymmetric synthesis of 4-mono-and 3, 4-disubstituted 2-acetoxy-butyrolactones 2 has been developed, based on a hydrazone-mediated asymmetric aldol reaction, an intramolecular lactonization and a stereoselective hydrogenation of the resulting butenolides 1. An application of this process in the synthesis of the natural hunger substance 3 (ee= 90%) is also presented.