The title compound was prepared in eight steps starting from 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannose. This commercially available compound was first transformed into known 3-acetamido-1,3-dideoxy-1-nitro-D-glycero-D-galacto-heptitol (2) and then, into 3-acetamido-4,5,6,7-tetra-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-D-manno-heptose (6b). Using a Wittig-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, aldehyde 6b was then converted into ethyl 5-acetamido-6,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,4,5-trideoxy-2-(t-butyldimethyl)silyloxy-D-manno-nonenoate (8). AfterO-deacetylation, saponification of the ester group and simultaneous deprotection of the silyloxy enol ether,N-acetyl-4-deoxy-D-neuraminic acid1was obtained in an overall yield of about 30% from 2.