The synthesis of chiral, rigid analogues of glycerol and cyclitols has been achieved by means of the stereocontrolled reduction of chiral bridgehead-substituted camphorquinones. This simple and easy procedure exclusively affords dihydroxy derivatives with a 2, 3-cis-exo- configuration. The employment of different hydrides has also allowed the synthesis of enantiopure 2, 3-dihydroxy carboxylic acids with high diastereoselectivity.