The facile synthesis of a homogeneously alpha,1 --> 2 interglycosidica
lly linked fucose hexasaccharide 17 via the disaccharide methylthio do
nor 10 is reported. Compound 10 in turn was synthesised from a monosac
charide thiomethyl precursor in three consecutive steps. Glycosylation
employing thioglycosides activated by copper bromide/tetrabutylammoni
um bromide proved to be selective for the formation of alpha-glycosidi
c linkages.