Both 1D-3-deoxy- and -2,3-dideoxyphosphatidylinositol (3 and 18) were synthesized using the regioisomeric mixture of viburnitol 1,2:4,5- and 1,2:5,6- diacetonides as starting material. Selective acidic hydrolysis and subsequent benzylation or deoxygenation afforded 11a,b as important intermediates. Compound 3 and 18 were of interest as putative antimetabolites of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate and as inhibitors of cancer cell colony formation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.