corresponding chiral 2,3-disubstituted-1-indanols 2 by ruthenium(II)-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution–asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. In particular, this route offers a practical access to a new class of conformationally rigid enantiopure 1,4-diols 2k–m having four contiguous chiral centers. Transformation of ent-2k into a Pallidol analogue via a highly diastereo- and regioselective Friedel–Crafts