(2S,3R)-3-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridine 8, an important precursor for the synthesis of polyhydroxylated piperidine azasugars, has been prepared from L-serine. Highly stereoselective nucleophilic addition to amino aldehyde 5 gave the corresponding allylic alcohol 6 which proceeded to give dihydro-2H-piridine 7a via a Grubbs II catalyzed RCM. Stereoselective H-bond directed epoxidation of allylic alcohol led to the oxiranyl alcohol 9 which was easily converted to L-deoxyaltronojirimycin by regioselective ring opening.