Abstract A short synthesis of the C2-epimeric amino acids l- and d-β-hydroxyenduracididine (βhEnd) was developed. Both amino acids are part of the cyclopeptide portion of the mannopeptimycin antibiotics. The synthetic route comprises eight steps starting from Garner’s aldehyde and provides partiallyprotected derivatives in good overall yields. Key steps are a stereodivergent olefination–bishydroxylation