we wondered if our methodology for the synthesis of allylic amines was compatible also with free hydroxy groups present in the substrate, as it has been shown earlier for a N-Boc protected amino hydroxy ester [21]. To corroborate this idea, N,N-dibenzylamino benzyl ester of L-serine (3) was submitted to the one-pot tandem reduction–olefination procedure described above. Disappointingly, the product (E)-4a was obtained in low yield although in excellent (dia)stereoselectivity. In the synthesis of anti-2-amino-1,3- diols, we reported earlier that the addition of DIBAL-H must be done necessarily in two portions [16]. Thus, fine-tuning of the reduction conditions was required in order to improve the yield, as shown in Table 3.