The enantiospecific synthesis of the vitamin D-3 CD ring fragment 3 is
reported. Key steps are the diastereoselective allylation of a noreph
edrine/dihydrocitronellic acid-derived oxazolidinone, and the intramol
ecular Diels-Alder reaction of a sulfonyl-substituted dienyne. The ana
logous cycloaddition reaction of a trienylsulfone substrate is shown t
o give products having the incorrect stereochemistry for vitamin D-3 s
ynthesis.