SummaryThe separate, radical denitration with Bu3SnH of the pyranose derivatives 3, 4, 9, and 10 gave in good yields exclusively the 'C-glycosides' 5 and 11, respectively (Scheme 1). Similar reduction of the cyclohexyl derivatives 15, 16, 19 and 20 gave 4:l mixtures of 17, 18, 21 and 22, respectively, always with predominant formation of an axial C,H-bond. In the furanose series a divergent behaviour was observed for the D-mannose-derived nitro ethers 25 and 27 and the D-ribose-derived nitro ethers 30 and 31, respectively, in that the former two gave isomerically homogeneous reduction products (26 and 28, respectively; Scheme 3) and the latter a 1 : 1 mixture of the diastereoisomers 32 and 33 (Scheme 4). The stereochemical results were explained on the basis of the stereoelectronic effect of the ring O-atom, the preferred conformation of the intermediate, pyramidal alkoxyalkyl radicals and steric effects in the trioxabicyclo [3.3.0]octane ring system. As far as it is known, these reactions follow a radical-chain mechanism and proceed via planar radical intermediates. As expected, the few stereochemically relevant reductions so far studied occur without stereospecificity [2] and with a variable diastereoselectivity [7] which is difficult to predict2).In the case of conformationally biased n-nitro ethers, however, the analogous reductive denitrations are expected to occur with a high degree of diastereoselectivi ty .