The tertiary amine-catalyzed directasymmetric aldol reaction of 2-hydroxyacetophenones (2-hydroxy-1-arylethanones) with a variety of aliphatic aldehydes has been demonstrated. By using 20 mol-% of unmodified cinchonine as catalyst, the direct aldol reaction products were isolated in good yields and with remarkably high syn diastereocontrol and good asymmetricinduction (40–78 % ee). This newly elaborated