Aldimines of 2, 3, 4, 6-tetra-O-pivaloyl-fi-D-galactosylamine react with 1-methoxy-3- trimethylsilyloxybuta-1, 3-diene in a Mannich—Michael condensation reaction sequence to give 2-substituted N-galactosyl-5, 6-dehydropiperidin-4-ones 3 with high diastereoselectivity. The X-ray analysis of the 2-propyl derivative 3a proved (R)- configuration of the major diastereomer and led to the correction of our earlier assignment ...