L-Desosamine (3,4,6-trideoxy-3-dimethylamino-L-xylo-hexose), the enantiomer of a widely distributed antibiotics component, was synthesized by borohydride reduction of methyl 3,4,6-trideoxy-3-nitro-α-L-erythro-hex-3-enopyranoside followed by catalytic hydrogenation of the nitro group, N,N-dimethylation of the resulting saturated amino glycoside, and acid hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond.