Selective acetolysis of methyl 2, 3, 4, 6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-D-manno-pyranoside (2) allows for easy preparation of 1-acetates of 2, 3,4, 6-tetra-O-benzyl (5), 6-O-acetyl-2, 3, 4, tri-O-benzyl-(6), 4, 6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-di-O-benzyl-(7), 3, 4, 6-tri-O-acetyl-2-O-benzyl-(8), and 2, 4, 6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-D-mannopyranoside (9).8and9formed are separated by preparative HPLC in 30-60g scale. The time course of previously described acetolyses of 3, 4, 6-tri-O-benzyl- 1, 2-O-(1-methoxyethyidene)-β-D-mannopyranose (3), and methyl 2, 3-dt-O-benzyl-4, 6-O-benzylldene-α-D-mannopyranoside (4) giving9, 1, 2, 6-tri-O-acetyl-3, 4-di-O-benzyl-(10), and 1, 2-di-O-acetyl-3, 4, 6-tri-O-benzyl-(11)α-D-mannopyranose as well7have been studied.