Regio- and stercoselective lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolutions were investigated for some unsymmetrical, secondary/secondary syn-diols. Candida antarctica lipase B-catalyzed transesterifications of a few aryl/alkyl- and alkyl/alkyl 1,2-diols were coupled in one-pot for efficient ruthenium-catalyzed epimerization and intramolecular acyl migration to give a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DYKAT) affording enantioenriched (ee up to > 99%) syn-diacetates as the main diastereomers (sywanti similar to 2:1 to 10:1). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.