Some naturally occurring carbohydrates, of which several hydroxy groups had been selectively protected, were condensed with formamidine to give the expected imidazole derivatives in the D‐arabino (9), D‐lyxo (12), L‐xylo (17), D‐threo (21), and in the L‐ and D‐erythro (24) series. Introduction of a strong leaving group at the remaining free alcohol function of these products led at once to intramolecular SN2 cyclisation to the corresponding bicyclic aza sugar derivatives. This was followed by total deprotection to give the target aza sugars in the L‐xylo (7), L‐ribo (14), D‐arabino (19), as well as in the D‐threo (22) and the L‐ and D‐erythro (26) series. Inhibitory assays with four glycosidases showed that the D‐arabino aza sugar 19 is the only potent inhibitor (for an α‐mannosidase of jack bean).