Enantiospecific synthesis of (−)-d-noviose from (−)-pantolactone

Abstract Noviose, the rare sugar moiety present in novobiocin, is an important antimicrobial and antitumor agent that has been shown to inhibit DNA gyrase and HSP90. An enantiospecific synthesis of d -(−)-noviose starting from commercially available (−)-pantolactone is reported.