(2S,4S)-1-O-Benzyl-2,5-di-O-mesyl-4-O-methoxymethylpentan-1,2,4,5-tetrol, a versatile precursor for subsequent cyclisations with bivalent nucleophiles, was obtained in five steps from the easily accessible (3S,5S)-3-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one. Using diso-dium phosphide in DMSO or disodium selenide in acetone-water, (2R,4S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-4-O-methoxymethylphospholane and (2R,4S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-4-O-methoxymethylselenolane were prepared. The phospholane was oxidized by oxygen (hydrogen peroxide) to give the analogous cyclic phospholane oxide (phosphinic acid) which was then transformed with benzyl bromide and alkali carbonate into the 1-benzyl phospholane oxide (phosphinic acid benzyl ester). All heterocyclic compounds sythesized, formally resemblecarba-2,3-dideoxy-d-giycero-pentofuranose, the carbocyclic analog of 2-deoxy-α-d-ribofuranose.