Stereoselective synthesis of the complete family of optically active dideoxygenated nucleosides of the apiose family have been developed. The chiral aldodiol system 7, a key intermediate in this synthesis, was prepared from the prochiral molecule 6, through the action of the lipase from Candida cylindracia. Approaches to novel enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric dideoxynucleosides containing the tetrahydrofuranethanol moiety have ...