Metal Trifluoromethanesulfonate- Catalyzed Regioselective Borane-Reductive Ring Opening of Benzylidene Acetals: A Concise Synthesis of 1,4-Dideoxy-1,4-imino- l -xylitol

[reaction: see text] A highly regioselective borane-reductive ring opening of the 4,6-O-benzylidene-D-hexopyranosides to the corresponding 6-alcohols in excellent yields at room temperature via various metal trifluoromethanesulfonates as catalysts is described here. Its application in the synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-xylitol is also highlighted.