Acetonides of the eight carbon sugar lactones, D-erythro-L-talooctono-
1, 4-lactone and D-erythro-L-galactooctono-1 4-lactone, readily derive
d from glucoheptonolactone, are easily accessible intermediates for th
e synthesis of sugar mimics with six adjacent stereogenic centres and
eight contiguous carbon atoms bearing functional groups.