Transformation of sugars, while maintaining the intrinsic stereochemical structure, is desirable. However, such a transformation requires multistep synthesis with protection and deprotection of the OH groups. Herein, a new method for selective transformation of sugar derivatives into chiral building blocks and a diol synthon, with retention of the intrinsic configuration (stereo- and regioselectively), is demonstrated. The method is based on the selective recognition of cis-vicinal OH groups in sugars and leads to the one-pot removal of the cis-vicinal OH groups, without protection of OH groups (except the OH group of the hemiacetal group), over a heterogeneous CeO -supported ReO and Pd (ReO -Pd/CeO ) catalyst by using H as a reducing agent.