An efficient approach to chiral α-hydroxy acid esters by Lewis acid-mediated asymmetric [1,5]-hydride shift and isomerization of 2-(3-pyrroline-1-yl)arylketone acid ester has been achieved in up to 96% yield and 94% ee. This protocol would be applied in the synthesis of chiral α-hydroxy acid derivatives with simplicity and high enantioselectivity.