3-Hydroxy-2-methyl- and 3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-substitutedlong-chaincarboxylicesters have been prepared by routes involving (i) reduction of the corresponding keto-esters, and (ii) Reformatsky reaction between the appropriate aldehydes and ethyl α-bromopropionate. The resulting 2,3-erythro- and threo-isomers of ethyl 3-hydroxy-2-methyleicosanoate, and of methyl and ethyl 3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethyldocosanoate