Methyl trans-4,5-epoxy-2,3,6-trideoxy-~~-threo-hex-Zenonate (1) reacts with liquid dimethylamine at -10°C in nearly quantitative yield with formation of the 3-dimethylamino-4,5-epoxy-2,3,6-trideoxy-~~-lyxo-/-xy~o-hexonate.s 8. Epimeric 8 is transformed in one step into the corresponding 3-dimethyiamino-y-lactone hydrochlorides 10 from which the ribo-isomer is obtained by fractional crystallization. The highly critical reduction of 10 which represents a &dialkylamino-lactone is possible with good success if diisobutylaluminium hydride (DIBAH) is used under controlled conditions. The 3-dimethylamino-2,3,6-trideoxy-~~-rib~hexop~anose (11) is very instable. Its configuration is established by the MS-and 'H-NhfR-spectra of the much more stable 1,4-di-O-acetyl derivative 12. L-11 (megosamine) is known as one of the sugar components of the megalomicin antibioticsz7'. -This four step synthesis Of DL-12 gives a total yield of 29%.Die Chemie der 3-Amino-2,3,6-tridesoxyhexosen gehort seit mehreren Jahren zu den Schwerpunkten der Antibiotikaforschung und hat inzwischen zu wichtigen Erkenntnissen uber Struktur-Wirkungsbeziehungen bei Anthracyclin-Antibiotika mit cytostatischen Eigenschaften gefuhrt 3 p 4 ) .