A short synthesis of iminosugars and pipecolic acid derivatives has been realized through aldol addition of a pyruvate, a range of ketones and (S)-isoserinal, followed by catalytic reductive intramolecular amination. The stereoselective aldol reaction was achieved successfully by using tertiary amines or di-zinc aldol catalysts, thus constituting two parallel routes to optically pure products with good yields and high diastereoselectivities. These carbohydrate analogues may be the inhibitors of potent glycosidases and glycosyltransferases.