Abstract Methyl 3, 4-O-isopropylidene-α-or β-D-galactopyranoside was iodinated with triiodoimidazole in the presence of triphenylphosphane and the corresponding 6-deoxy-6- iodo derivatives 5 or 6, respectively, were converted to furanose-free 1, 2, 3, 4-tetra-O-acetyl- α, β-D-fucopyranose. A key intermediate for chemical synthesis of anthrose, a constituent of the tetrasaccharide of major glycoprotein of Bacillus anthracis exosporium, 1-O-acetyl-4- ...