The work within this thesis describes the optimisation of the synthesis of a series of [l,4]-morpholines, [l,4]-oxazepanes and disaccharide mimics prepared by reductive amination of carbohydrate-derived dialdehydes with primary amines. Also described are the investigations into synthesis of heptanoside motifs via nitroaldol reactions of carbohydrate-derived dialdehydes and Beckmann rearrangements of carbohydrate oximes. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the involvement of carbohydrates within biological pathways, with particular interest in monosaccharide; importance and the methodologies used in the synthesis of heptanoside motifs. Chapter 2 provides an overview of oxidative cleavage, reductive amination and nitroaldol reactions with particular emphasis on the application of these reactions to carbohydrate substrates.