Starting materials and reagents were commercial grade and were used without further purification. C-Labeled D-aldohexoses were obtained from Omicron Biochemicals, Inc. (South Bend, IN) and used without further purification. All reactions were monitored by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on aluminum sheets coated with Silica Gel 60 (F 254 , 250 µm thickness). Spots were detected with a cerium molybdate stain. Column chromatography was conducted using Dowex 1 x 8 (200-400 mesh) anion-exchange resin (200-400 mesh) in the OH -form. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data were obtained on a Bruker micrOTOF-QII quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer operating in the ESI mode.