Two short synthetic approaches to enantiopure conduritols are described sta
rting from the chiral pool. In both cases, the cyclohexene ring is assemble
d via ring-closing olefin metathesis. The terminal diene precursers for the
metathesis reaction are prepared either from octitols or from tartaric aci
ds. The farmer route involves a new method for selective bromination of the
primary positions in long-chain carbohydrate polyols. Subsequent reductive
elimination with zinc then generates the diene. The latter route uses a hi
ghly diastereoselective addition of divinylzinc to tartaric dialdehydes for
preparation of the dienes.