“…In fact, we recently reported a two-pot synthetic method for the synthesis of syn -1,3-diol units, through organocatalyst 1 -mediated aldol reaction, Wittig reaction, and acetalization, followed by Bi(OTf) 3 -mediated oxy-Michael reaction (eq ). We also reported the three-pot synthesis of syn -α,γ-dihydroxycarbonyl units via organocatalyst 1 -mediated aldol reaction, Henry reaction, acetalization, Nef reaction, and epimerization (eq 2 ). In these reactions, chiral syn -1,3-diol units are synthesized from readily available starting materials.…”