A new synthesis of (+)-pinitol 9 has een developed starting from the 7-oxanorbornenic sulfone (+)-5, prepared in enantiomerically pure form by resolution of the sulfonyl-7-oxanorbornanol 4. These precursors are available from the Diels-Alder adduct of furan and trans-1,2-bis-(phenylsulfonyl) ethylene. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.