Optimization of a strategy providing the enantiomerically pure nitrone 2 in five steps and 28% overall yield from l-malic acid has been achieved by the combined use of DIBAL-H as the reductant and triisopropylsilyl as the protecting group. The utility of nitrone 2 as synthetic intermediate is demonstrated by a ready access to polyhydroxylated indolizidines and pyrrolizidines via stereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions.