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Novel synthetic methods for the production of butyl (S)-2-hydroxybutanoate starting from butyl (2S,3R)-epoxybutanoate or butyl (S)-2,3-epoxypropanoate were established. The former meth-od utilized the regioselective thiolysis of the epoxybutanoate medi-ated by scandium triflate and subsequent reductive cleavage of the thioether to give butyl (S)-2-hydroxybutanoate with stereochemical retention in quantitative yield. The latter method utilized one-step conversion by a combination of methylmagnesium bromide and copper catalyst in high yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]