A convenient large-scale synthesis of 1-deoxynojirimyin (DNJ) from d-glucuronolactone involves introduction of azide at C-5 with retention of configuration to give 5-azido-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose as a key intermediate in an overall yield of up to 72%; the same intermediate can be transformed into DMDP [(2R,3R,4R,5R)-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine-3,4-diol] and (3R)-3-hydroxy-l-bulgecinine [(2S,3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-l-proline]. l-Glucuronolactone, a readily available l-sugar chiron, may similarly be used to access the enantiomers l-DNJ, l-DMDP, and (3S)-3-hydroxy-d-bulgecinine. A comparison of glycosidase inhibition by DMDP (an inhibitor of β-glucosidases and β-galactosidases) and l-DMDP (a potent and specific α-glucosidase inhibitor) with the corresponding enantiomeric hydroxybulgecinines is reported; DMDP and (3R)-3-hydroxy-l-bulgecinine show weak inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase.

1,2-O-Isopropylidene-α-l-glucurono-3,6-lactone may be synthesized on a 100–200g scale from cheaply available d-glucoheptonolactone in an overall yield of 94% in four steps via l-glucuronolactone. Subsequent elaboration to l-glucose, diacetone-l-glucose (1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-l-glucofuranose), and monoacetone-l-glucose (1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-glucofuranose) allows easy access to a range of l-sugar chirons.

X-ray crystallographic analysis has established that the major product from the protection of d-glucoronolactone with benzaldehyde is (1S)-1,2-O-benzyl-idene-α-d-glucurono-6,3-lactone, C(13)H(12)O(6), rather than the R epimer. The crystal structure exists as O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded chains of mol-ecules lying parallel to the a axis. The absolute configuration was determined by the use of d-glucuronolactone as the starting material.

X-ray crystallographic analysis has established that the major product from the protection of d-glucoronolactone with benzaldehyde is (1S)-1,2-O-benzylidene-α-d-glucurono-6,3-lactone, C13H12O6, rather than the R epimer. The crystal structure exists as O—H...O hydrogen-bonded chains of molecules lying parallel to the a axis. The absolute configuration was determined by the use of d-glucuronolactone as the starting material.

Readily crystallized 2-C-methyl-d-ribono-1,4-lactone is formed in a one-pot procedure from d-glucose without any protecting groups by treatment with dimethylamine to give an Amadori ketose and then with aqueous calcium hydroxide in yields of approximately 25%; 2-C-methyl-l-ribono-1,4-lactone is similarly produced from l-glucose. 3,4-O-Isopropylidene-2-C-methyl-d-arabinono-1,5-lactone and 2-C-methyl-d-arabinono-1,4-lactone were prepared in a combined 60% yield by the Kiliani reaction of sodium cyanide with a protected 1-deoxy-d-ribulose derived from d-erythronolactone; the enantiomeric arabinonolactones are similarly available from l-erythronolactone.