A practical route is described for the flexible preparation of a wide variety of inositol stereoisomers and their polyphosphates. The potential of this approach is demonstrated by the synthesis Of myo-, L-chiro-, D-chiro-, epi-, scyllo-, allo-, and neo-inositol systems. Optically pure compounds in either enantiomeric form can be prepared from p-benzoquinone via enzymatic resolution of a derived conduritol B key intermediate. High-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection permits inositol stereoisomers to be resolved and detected with high sensitivity, ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003).