deoxygenation, were subjected to a one-pot reaction sequence involving N-methylation of the heterocyclic ring by MeOTf, treatment of the N-methylbenzothiazolium salt with a Grignard reagent, and HgCl2-promoted hydrolysis of the benzothiazoline thus formed. The resulting ketones were isolated in yields varying from 35 to 80%. Treatment of the sugar ketones with various organometals containing the phenyl