(3S)- and (3R)-3-hydroxy-citronellic acid were obtained by Sharpless epoxidation of geraniol, followed by reduction of the epoxide and subsequent oxidation of the primary alohol to a carboxylic acid. This enantioselective approach allowed us to assign absolute configuration 3R to the naturally occuring monoterpene derivative. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd