From a single chiron, the homochiral benzylic malonic acid ester (R)-(+)-2 available with high enantiomeric excess by enzymatic hydrolysis (PLE acetonic powder), enantiomerically pure (-)-sporochnol A 1 was prepared. This versatile method allows preparation of sporochnol 1, via aldehydes 7 and 15, in good overall yield. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.