Here we summarise our recent developments in the field of selective reactions of carbohydrates promoted by isobutylaluminium reagents.  The triisobutylaluminium (TIBAL) promoted rearrangement of carbohydrate based vinyl acetals (hex-5-enopyranosides) provides a powerful and versatile method for the preparation of highly functionalised enantiomerically pure cyclohexanes.  TIBAL and diisobutylaluminium (DIBAL) also promote the regioselective de-O-benzylation of readily available protected sugars providing direct access to selectively protected carbohydrates.  The scope and limitations of these highly selective reactions are described.