Abstract Sodium 5-acetamido-2, 6-anhydro-3, 4, 5-trideoxy-d-manno-non-2-enonate (2) has been synthesized from N-acetyl-4-deoxy-neuraminic acid methyl ester (4). Sodium 2, 6- anhydro-3-deoxy-l-arabino-hept-2-enonate (3), 4-acetamido-2, 6-anhydro-3, 4-dideoxy-l- arabino-hept-2-enonic acid (18e), and 4-acetamido-2, 6-anhydro-3, 4-dideoxy-l-ribo-hept-2- enonic acid (18a) have been prepared from l-arabinose. The above compounds were ...