In the presence of Eu (fod) 3,(1E)-(2′, 3′, 4′, 6′-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy) buta-1, 3-diene and its (3Z)-4-O-acetyl derivative undergo Re-face and endo selective hetero Diels-Alder reactions with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 5-nitrofuran-2-carbaldehyde and 5- nitrothiophene-2-carbaldehyde. The cycloadducts are converted into the title compounds, early examples of 'free'5-C-arylpentopyranoses.