Aspyrone (1) was elaborated in an optically pure form by a key reaction involving the highly diastereoselective addition of tetrahydropyranone enol ate to 2-tosyloxy-aldehyde and the subsequent in situ formation of an epoxide. ... Synthetic work on biologically active 5-oxygenated dihydropyranones osmundalactone (2),1) phomalactone (3),2) acetylphomalactone (4),2.3) asperlin (5),2.3) and their isomers directed our interest toward the chiral synthesis of more complex congener aspyrone (1). This ...