Enantioselective synthesis of α-hydroxy aldehydes with an alkene tether was accomplished from l-(+)-tartaric acid, employing stereoselective reduction of a 1,4-diketone with L-selectride as the key step. Synthetic utility of these aldehydes was demonstrated in the synthesis of pine beetle pheromone (+)-exo-brevicomin. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.