Reported herein is the iteration of a strategy employing a Mukaiyama reaction in tandem with a hydrogen transfer reaction for the elaboration of four polypropionate motifs containing the anti-anti unit. In this process, Lewis acid acts as the key element in controlling the diastereoselectivity of each step, the outcome of which is >20:1 for all of the reactions performed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.