A process for synthesizing an optically pure ketone comprising the steps of: treating an appropriate optically pure boronic ester with an organolithium compound at -78.degree. C. to obtain the "ate" complex, separating the optically pure borinic ester from the complex and converting said borinic ester into an optically pure ketone represented by the formulae: R*COR.sup.1 and R*COC.tbd.CR.sup.1 wherein R* is a chiral organyl moeity and R.sup.1 is an achiral organyl moeity.