Concise synthesis of enantiopure erythro-saccharinic acid lactone and potassium (2R,3R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate

A short and efficient approach was applied to the total synthesis of erythro-saccharinic acid lactone and the leaf-closing substance potassium (2R,3R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate from a 2-C-hydroxymethyl-d-erythrose derivative, using a combined strategy.