A catalytic asymmetric formal synthesis of 4-demethoxydaunomycin (3) was achieved using a catalytic asymmetric ring opening reaction of meso-epoxide 9 as a key step. The epoxide opening reaction was promoted by 10 mol% of Pr-(R)-BINOL–Ph3PO complex to give the β-amino alcohol 11 in 80% yield with 65% enantiomeric excess (ee). Single recrystallization enhanced the enantiomeric purity of the β-amino