A Convenient Stereoselective Synthesis of (1R,2S,3R,4S)‐3‐(Neopentyloxy)isoborneol

A convenient preparation of (1R,2S,3R,4S)‐3‐(neopentyloxy)isoborneol (= (1R,2S,3R,4S)‐3‐(2,2‐dimethyl‐propoxy)‐1,7,7‐trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐ol; 1a), a valuable chiral auxiliary, is described. The synthesis involves six steps starting from the readily available camphorquinone (5) and gives 1a in 48% overall yield. The key step is the chemoselective hydrolysis of the less hindered 1,3‐dioxolane moiety in the camphorquinone di‐acetal 4.