Abstract Starting from D-arabinose the synthesis of the very strong glycosidase inhibitors isofagomine (2) and noeuromycin (3) was achieved in six and seven steps, respectively. Keystep in the reaction sequence is the application of an efficient C-4 oxidation method to benzyl α-D-arabino-pyranoside. Subsequent Henry reaction of the obtained aldoketose with nitromethane provided the required branched carbohydrate precursors, which gave ...
