1,4-Dihydroxy-2,3-dioxatricyclo[8.4.0.0(4,9)]tetradecane and derivatives have been synthesised and their in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum (malaria) Ghana, Trypanasoma b brucei (sleeping sickness) TB-1, and Trypanasoma cruzi (Chagas' disease) TC-1, and Leishmaniasis infantum (leishmaniasis) L1 parasite strains has been assessed.