Methyl 4,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-4-(N-methyl-N-phenylsulfonylamino)-alpha-L- mannopyranoside and methyl 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-alpha-L-mannopyranoside, derivatives of the branched-chain amino sugars sibirosamine and kansosamine, respectively, were synthesized by nucleophilic ring-opening of methyl 3,4-anhydro-6-deoxy-3-C-methyl-alpha-L-talopyranoside. Catalytic reduction of methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-alpha-L-lyxo-hexopyrano sid-4-ulose gave the axial alcohol methyl 6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-alpha-L-talopyranoside, a known precursor to vinelose.