By a combination of stereospecific osmium catalyzed oxidation of dimethyl citraconate and lipase catalysed enantioselective resolution of the formed dimethyl (2R*,3S*)‐2,3‐dihydroxy‐2‐methylbutanedioate, followed by reduction, (2R,3S)‐ and (2S,3R)‐2‐methylbutane‐1,2,3,4‐tetraol were isolated. Similar reactions starting with dimethyl mesaconate gave the isomers, (2R,3R)‐ and (2S,3S)‐2‐methylbutane‐1,2,3,4‐tetraol. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)