The stereocontrolled synthesis of atorvastatin calcium from commercially available d-aspartic acid using intramolecular oxidative oxygen-nucleophilic bromocyclization of homoallylic tert-butyl carbonate is described. This strategy allows formation of the chiral syn-1,3-diol moiety in the desired stereochemistry and provides a functionalized bromomethyl group for construction of the atorvastatin side