Crossed aldol reaction between aromatic aldehydes having an electron-withdrawing group and trimethylsilyl enolates generated from several aldehydes proceeded smoothly in dry or water-containing DMF in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Lewis base such as lithium acetate or lithium benzoate. Successive reduction of the produced aldehydes with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) afforded the corresponding 1,3-diols in good to high yields in one-pot.