A number of 1, 4-dideoxy-1, 4-imino-1-(S)-(substituted phenyl)-d-ribitols bearing aromatic OH, NH2, NO2, CO2H and halogeno moieties, and a 3-pyridyl analogue have been synthesized. The key step is the condensation of aryllithium or aryl Grignard reagents with the imine 3; derived from the protected 1, 4-dideoxy-1, 4-imino-d-ribitol 4.