Disclosed is a chiral, total synthesis of thienamycin from D-glucose which proceeds via intermediates I, II and III to known aldehyde IV which is known to be useful in the total synthesis of thienamycin (V): ##STR1## wherein: R is lower alkyl having 1-6 carbon atoms or bi-valent alkyl having 2-6 carbon atoms which joins the two sulfur atoms; R.sup.1 is lower alkyl or aralkyl, such as benzyl and the like; and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a removable protecting group, such as triorganosilyl wherein the organo groups are independently selected from lower alkyl, phenyl and phenylloweralkyl.