A convenient synthesis of (S)- and (R)-4-vinyl oxazolidin-2-one 1 and 2 from the same inexpensive starting material, D-isoascorbic acid, is described. The title compounds were obtained in 44% and 38% yield, respectively, by operationally simple steps. This approach is a suitable alternative to the literature methods and enhances the synthetic utility of these intermediates. Inc.