Methyl glycosides are identified as glycosyl donors for the synthesis of glycosides, disaccharides and oligosaccharidesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: General experimental procedures and 1H, 13C, DEPT NMR spectral charts. See DOI: 10.1039/b822526e

Stable methyl glycosides are identified as glycosyl donors in the presence of AuBr3in acetonitrile; a panel of aglycones comprising aliphatic, alicyclic, steroidal and sugar alcohols are examined successfully for the glycosylation reaction and methyl glycosides of di- and tri- saccharides are converted to corresponding tri- and tetra-saccharides exploiting salient features of our novel activation protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]