The present invention provides desosamine and mycaminose analogs and nitro sugars and methods for their preparation. The invention also provides methods of cyclizing a compound of Formula (Α') with glyoxal to give a nitro sugar of Formula (B). Methods for the preparation of compound of Formula (D') are provided comprising cyclization of a nitro alcohol to give a nitro sugar and reduction and alkylation of the nitro sugar to give a desosamine, mycaminose, or an analog thereof.
