The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of chiral diol sulfones of general formula (1), in particular to l-tert-butoxy-3-((4R,6S)-2,2-dimethyl-6-((l-phenyl-lH-tetrazol-5-ylsulfonyl)methyl)-l,3-dioxan-4-yl)propan-2-one of formula (2), which is the key intermediate for the production of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors like Rosuvastatin, Atorvastatin, Pitavastatin, and the like. where R is as shown below where R1 is preferably aryl such as phenyl.