Reduction of glycidyl mesylate with dissolving metal produces allylic alcohol in fair to excellent yield. Combined with the highly stereoselective epoxidation of allylic alcohols with butyl hydroperoxide and oxobis(2,4-pentanedionato-0,0')vanadium(IV) as a catalyst, the sequence provides a new and efficient means for 1,3-trans-position of allylic alcohols, by which geraniol is transformed into linalool, farnesol into nerolidol, and furthermore, ( -)-?.y-carveol into the (-[-) antipode and vice versa in a stereospecific way.