~~~ ~The lactam 21 was obtained in an overall yield of 72% from the hydroxy amide 16 by oxidation with the Dess-Martin periodinane, acid-catalysed isomerization of the oxidation products in toluene, whereupon 18/19 precipitated, and reductive dehydroxylation of 18/19 (Et,SiH/BF, . OEt,; Scheme I). The amide 16 was obtained by ammonolysis of the N-acetylglucosamine-derived lactone 15. Depending on the oxidation method, 16 yielded the keto amide 17, the hydroxy lactams 18/19, and the pyrrolidinecarboxamide 20 in widely different proportions. The pyrrolidinecarboxamide 20 was not reduced under the conditions of the reductive dehydroxylation. Hydrogenolysis of the benzyl-protected lactam 21 gave the trihydroxy lactam 22, while reduction with NaBH,/ BF, . OEt, led to the 2-acetamidopiperidine derivative 24 (Scheme 2). Selective (tert-butoxy)carbonylation of the lactam 21 (+ 25) followed by NaBH, reduction and acid-catalysed solvolysis in EtOH led to the a-ethoxycarbamates 28/29. Similarly, (tert-but0xy)carbonylation of 1 (+ 31) followed by reduction to 32/33 and glycosidation yielded the ethoxycarbamate 34. Treatment of the GlcNAc-derived ethyl glycosides 28/29 with Me,SiCN/ BF, OEt, gave the equatorial amino nitrile 30. Under similar conditions, the Glc-derived glycoside 34 led to the iminooxazolidinone 35. In the presence of a larger proportion of Me,SiCN at 5". 34 was transformed into the axial, selectively monodebenzylated amino nitrile 36.