N-Benzoyl-L-daunosamine was synthesized with high stereoselectivity utilizing a 1, 3-addition of ketene silyl acetal to the chiral nitrone, (Z)-[(4S, 5S)-2, 2, 5-trimethyl-1, 3-dixolan-4-yl]methylene[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]amine N-oxide, followed by a silyl group-transfer reaction in acetonitrile under mild conditions.