Conduritol-E was synthesized starting from cyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol la in six steps. Acetylation of the diol la followed by bromination gave (2 alpha/1 beta, 3 beta, 4 beta)-1,2-dibromo-2,3-diacetoxy-5-cyclohexene 3 as main product. KMnO4-hydoxylation of the dibromide 3 followed by acetylation, Zn-elimination and hydrolysis afforded conduritol-E 5a.