Total syntheses of styryl lactones, leiocarpin C and (+)-goniodiol have been accomplished in a highly stereoselective manner. The key steps involved in these syntheses are the Chan alkyne reduction, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination, aryl Grignard reaction, hydroboration, stereoselective alkoxy-directed keto-reduction, stereoselective 1,3-anti-allylation, esterification