The indium-mediated allylation of a protected derivative of D-xylulose in aqueous THF is highly diastereoselective. The obtained product has been converted in four steps into a spiro lactone previously transformed into syributins and secosyrins. This remarkably short reaction sequence constitutes therefore a formal synthesis of these compounds and provides also a promising synthetic approach towards the syringolides. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.