The ketohexose d-tagatose is a rare sugar that is of interest as a potent noncaloric sweetener. The synthesis of d-tagatose has been accomplished by microbiological conversion of dulcitol1,2 as well as by chemical syntheses in low yields originating from d-galactose3 or d-fructose.4 Recently, some patents concerning the synthesis of d-tagatose have been published.5,6,7 We here present an alternative