Abstract: A method for making dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), comprising treating dihydroxyacetone with a bacterial acid phosphatase in the presence of pyrophosphate. The invention further pertains to a method for stereospecifically making, preferably in one pot, a compound of the formula: R—C*H(OH)—C*H(OH)—CO—CH2—OH comprising the steps: a) treating dihydroxyacetone with a bacterial acid phosphatase in the presence of pyrophosphate to make dihydroxyacetone phosphate; b) treating the dihydroxyacetone phosphate with R—CHO and an aldolase, wherein R—CHO is any aldehyde, preferably R is selected from H, unsubstituted or substituted (cyclo)alkyl, and a carbohydrate moiety, and C* stands for a chiral carbon atom to a phosphate of the formula: R—C*H(OH)—C*H(OH)—CO—CH2—OPO3H2; and c) dephosphorylating the phosphate of step b) by treating the phosphate with a bacterial acid phosphatase.