Asymmetric aldol-like reactions of cinnamaldehyde, dienal 3 (fragment C7-C12 of macrolactin A), and dienal 4 (fragment C15-C24) with (i) chiral acetylthiazolidinethione- derived enolates,(ii) chiral boron enolates, and (iii) silyl enolates in the presence of chiral titanium-2, 2′-dinaphthol complexes are compared. Use of the thiazolidinethione auxiliary and TiCl4 shows practical advantages; eg, C5-C12 fragment 7 has been isolated ...