Synthesis of Highly Oxygenated Bicyclic Carbasugars. Remarkable Difference in the Reactivity of the d-gluco and d-xylo- Derived Trienes

2,3,4-Tri-O-benzyl-D-xylopyranose was used as a starting material in the preparation of the corresponding triene, which underwent smooth cyclization to a polyhydroxylated hydrindane, as a single diastereoisomer. The analogous triene prepared from D-glucose did not undergo any cyclization even under high pressure.