A concise enantio- and diastereo-controlled synthesis of (−)-quinic acid and (−)-shikimic acid

(–)-Quinic acid and (–)-shikimic acid, both recognized as the key intermediates in the shikimate pathway in plants and microorganisms, have been synthesized concisely in an enantio- and diastereo-controlled manner starting from a synthetic equivalent of (R)-4-hydroxycyclohex-2-enone.