A 6-alkyl-4,5-epoxy-6-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one derivative, a model compound for the hydrophilic moiety of scyphostatin, was stereoselectively synthesized from the Diels–Alder adduct. The key steps were the reductive cleavage of the 4,5-epoxide ring of the epoxidated adduct, the 1,3-carbonyl transposition of the 3-carbonyl group to the C1 position by a Wharton reaction and stereoselective bromination to provide a trans bromohydrin derivative, a precursor to the desired compound. Desilylation of the bromohydrin derivative with TBAF directly gave the target compound.