Abstract Chiral acrylates 4a, 4b and 4c, derived from primary alcohols with a single stereogenic centre, were studied for possible diastereoface differentiation in their Lewis acid catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction with cyclopentadiene. No relevant diastereomeric excess was observed for the tert-butyl derived 4a. On the other hand, moderate but significant diastereomeric excesses (72-76%) resulted when the trityl derived acrylates 4b and 4c ...