Summary. Methods for synthesis of (Q-and (S)-Z-benzyloxy-and 2-(t-butyldiphenylsiIjloxy)- aldehydes from optically active tartaric acids are described. a-Hydroxyaldehydes are useful precursors of an oxirane, an allylic alcohol, a 1, 2-diol and other structural units in syntheses of various natural products. Novel methods of preparation of enantiomerically pure a- hydroxyaldehydes consist in transformations with the use of enzymesl, as well as chiral ...