The Wieland–Miescher ketone analogues (3) and (4), each bearing an angular protected hydroxymethyl group, have been prepared by the amino-acid catalysed cyclisation of their cyclohexane-1,3-dione derivatives (1) and (2); the optical purities and absolute configurations of (3) and (4) have been determined by applying the methoxy (trifluoromethyl)phenylacetate method and the c.d. exciton chirality method