The base-catalyzed addition of nitromethane to 5-deoxy-D-xylose gave a mixture of 1,6-dideoxy-1-nitro-D -gulitol (2) and 1,6-dideoxy-1-nitro-D-iditol (3) (ca. 1;1) which underwent the Nef reaction to give 6-deoxy-D-gulose and 6-deoxy-D-idose, Acetylation of mixed 2 and 3 afforded the corresponding 2,3,4,5-tetra-O-acetyl-1,6-dideoxy-1-nitro-D-gulitol (4) and 2,3,4,5-tetra-O-acetyl-1,6-dideoxy-1-nitro-D-iditol (5) derivatives which on treatment with methanolic ammonia yielded 2-acetamido-1,2,6-trideoxy-1-nitro-D-gulitol (11) and 2-acetamido-1,2,6-trideoxy-1-nitro-D-iditol (12) (ca. 6:1). Compounds 11 and 12 underwent the modified Nef reaction to give 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-gulose (13) and 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-idose (14) which were separated by cellulose column chromatography.Compound 4 was converted to 3,4,5-tri-O-acetyl-1,2,6-trideoxy-1-nitro-D-xylo-hex-1-enitol (6) which on catalytic reduction gave 3,4,5-tri-O-acetyl-1,2,6-trideoxy-1-nitro-D-xylo-hexitol (7). Compound 7 underwent the Nef reaction to yield 2,6-dideoxy-D-xylo-hexose (8) (D-boivinose).