The title compound, C14H19NO5S, was prepared by nucleophilic addition of the lithium derivative of methylphenylsulfone to (3S,4R)-3,4-isopropylidenedioxypyrroline 1-oxide. There are four molecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystal structure determination confirms the configuration of the chiral centres as 2R,3S,4R. In the crystal, pairs of O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the molecules into dimers.