The asymmetric dihydroxylation of geranyl acetate, neryl acetate and t
rans, trans -farnesyl acetate was studied using the new Sharpless' lig
ands (DHQD)2-PHAL and (DHQ)2-PHAL. High enantioselectivity was always
observed. High positional selectivity for the 6,7-olefin was observed
in the case of the monoterpene acetates.