Acid-catalyzed cyclization of hydroxy-cyclic sulfates occurs with endo-regioselectivity affording bispyran products from substrates in which the nucleophilic hydroxyl and electrophilic cyclic sulfate groups are 1,2-trans-substituted on a cyclic pyran template. This methodology is demonstrated in an enantioselective synthesis of the trans-syn-trans fused AB cyclic ether rings of the brevetoxin natural products. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.