De Novo Synthesis of Racemic 4‐Deoxy‐4,4‐difluoro‐ and 2,4‐Dideoxy‐2,4,4‐trifluorohexosides

A range of racemic 4‐deoxy‐4,4‐difluorinated carbohydrates were prepared by using a diversity‐oriented de novo synthesis starting with three commercially available two‐carbon building blocks. A common gem‐difluorinated glycal was prepared in 35 % yield in seven steps, from which five different 4‐deoxy‐4,4‐difluoro‐ and 4‐deoxy‐2,4,4‐trifluorohexopyranosides were accessed using well‐established functional group manipulations.