The enantiomerically pure (1S,4R,4'S,5'S)-1-(4',5'-dimethyl-dioxolan-2'-yl)-5,6-dimethylidene-7-ox abicyclo[2.2.1 derived from the acetal of furfural and (2S,3S)-butane-2,3-diol underwent addition to 1-acetylvinyl para-nitrobenzoate in the presence of an excess of t-BuMe2SiOSO2CF3 to yield an 83:17 mixture of two diastereomeric products which was converted into (2R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-hydroxy-5,8-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl methyl ketone. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.