AnefficientroutetoprepareL-glucoseandL-galactoseisdescribed.TheL-sugarsareachievedbyusingthestrategyofswitchingthefunctionalgroupsatC1andC5ofD-glucoseandD-mannose.TheoxidationandreductionofthesilylenoletheratC1andthelead(IV)tetraacetatemediatedoxidativedecarboxylationatC5arethekeysteps.L-GlucoseandL-galactosearepreparedinaconvenientandinexpensiveway.