The Synthesis of Rare Sugars

The use of new oxidation reagents, such as the Pfitzner‐Moffatt reagent, dimethyl sulfoxide‐acid anhydrides, and ruthenium tetroxide, has significantly improved the yields obtained on oxidation of a secondary hydroxyl group to a carbonyl group in suitably protected sugars. The application of these new oxidants in the carbohydrate field is briefly surveyed. The product ketones are convenient intermediates for syntheses of amino, branched‐chain, deoxy, and other rare sugars. Some representative syntheses are illustrated.