An alternative pathway to produce the above beta-anomer appeared in the reaction of C-(1-bromo-1-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)formamide with CH3CN in the presence of Ag2CO3 to yield 1-acetamido-2,3,4,6,-tetra-O-benzoyl-1-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl cyanide, which was hydrated, in the presence of TiCl4, to the formamide.