L-Serine methyl ester hydrochloride was converted to (S)-2-[N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino]-3-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)propanal (6). Homocoupling of 6 promoted by [V2Cl3(THF)(6)](2)[Zn2Cl6] (1) gave C-2-symmetric diol (7). After manipulation of protecting groups and Swern oxidation, 7 was converted to a 1,6-dialdehyde 10. Intramolecular pinacol coupling of 10 with 1 gave a selectively protected 1,4-diamino-2,3,5,6-tetrahydroxycyclohexane, which is the key skeleton of Fortimicin AM and AK.