Lithium enolate, derived from alkyl 2-(phenylthio)alkanoate with lithium diisopropylamide, reacted with aldehyde in the presence of diethylaluminum chloride to give alkyl 2-phenylthio-2-alkyl-3-hydroxyalkanoate, which was converted to 2-alkylidene-3-hydroxy-alkanoate via thermolysis of the corresponding sulfoxide. The title compound was synthesized from methyl 2-(phenylthio)hexadecanoate and (R)-(