(4S,5S)-(-)-Isocytoxazone, which is needed for a configurational study, was synthesized from the commercially available (1S,2S)-(+)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediolin which the p-nitro substituent was replaced by a p-methoxyl group; the thus prepared p-methoxyphenyl amino diol was cyclized via an N-Boc derivative. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.