Abstract: A novel process for the synthesis of amikacin starting from kanamycin A protected at the positions 3 and 6' is described comprising the reaction of kanamycin A with a salt of a bivalent metal cation selected from zinc, nickel, iron, cobalt, manganese, copper and cadmium in the presence of water as the solvent or co-solvent followed by the in situ reaction of the resulting complex with a reactive derivative of L-amino-2-hydroxy-butyric acid, removal of the metal cation of the protecting groups and purification of the thus obtained raw product. The acylation under these conditions is extremely selective.