Two short and highly stereocontrolled syntheses for 7a-epi-hyacinthacine A(2) (7-deoxyalexine) 3 and 5,7a-diepihyacinthacine A(3) 4 are, respectively, reported herein. An appropriately protected polyhydroxypyrrolidine. (2R,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2'-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine 5, readily available from D-fructose, was chosen as the chiral starting material. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.