N-Boc protected 3-hydroxy-2-hydroxymetliyl-3-methylpyrrolidine was kinetically resolved by acylation in an organic solvent catalyzed by Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase to give the corresponding acetate and residual diol in 14 E. Further selective oxidation afforded the title compound in high diastereo- and enantioselectivity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.