(R)-and (S)-δ-hydroxymethyl valerolactone and ε-hydroxymethyl caprolactone were prepared as tert-butyldiphenylsilyl derivatives, in good yields and high enantiomeric purities, in a 5 step sequence, starting from the microbial stereospecific reduction of ethyl 2- oxocyclopentane or 2-oxocyclohexane carboxylates respectively.
