A 'one-pot'conversion of aldehyde 6 to hydroxyketoester 10 with high enantioselection, culminating in a practical asymmetric synthesis of (3R, 5S) isomer of the antihyperlipoproteinemic agent fluvastatin, 1, is described. All four 3, 5-dihydroxy-6 (E)- heptenoate stereoisomers were prepared in enantiopure form starting from 10, utilizing selective reduction and oxidation methods.
