Addition of organolithium reagents to the sugar enones: alkyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-alpha-L- and 2,3-dideoxy-alpha-D-hex-2-enopyranosid-4-ulose has been examined. Butyl, benzyl and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyllithium add with increasing stereoselectivity, to the carbonyl group of the alpha,beta-unsaturated ketosugars, whereas 2,5-dimethoxybenzyllithium undergoes stereospecific conjugate addition and 1,2-addition in the ratio of 1.7:1. The structure of the resultant carbinols is based on X-ray crystallographic evidence. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.