Treatment of (1RS, SSR)-(1-phenylsulfinyl-2-valeryl benzene) chromium
tricarbonyl 2 with a sulfur ylide results in a highly diastereoselecti
ve epoxide formation (d.s.>96:4). Regioselective opening of the epoxid
e, employing an in situ trapping protocol, allows the synthesis of a h
ighly functionalised, diastereomerically pure benzylic alcohol.