Synthesis of 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol and 2-C-Methyl-L-threitol; Determination of the Absolute Configuration of 2-C-Methyl-1,2,3,4-butanetetrol Isolated from Phlox sublata L

2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol (A) and 2-C-methyl-L-threitol (B) were respectively synthesized from D-glucose and D-galactose. The 2-C-methyl-1,2,3,4-butanetetrol compound (C) recently isolated from Phlox sublata L was confirmed to be A by comparing the CD and ¹H-NMR spoectra of its tri-O-benzoate with those of A and B.