The reduction of acetophenone 1 and the hydrolysis of 1-acetoxy-2-methylcyclohexene 3 with various commercially available plants to the corresponding S-carbinol 2 and S-ketone 4 are described. The further incubation of 2-methylcyclohexanone 4 with some plants affords the enantiomerically pure trans- and/or cis-alcohol 5 and 6, respectively. (C) 2002 Elseveir Science Ltd. All rights reserved.