Synthesis of oligosaccharides with oligoethylene glycol spacers and their conversion into glycoconjugates using N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl(succinimido)uronium tetrafluoroborate as coupling reagent.

Glycosides of glucose and lactose with di- and tetraethylene glycols, transformed into bifunctional (alcohol, ester) spacer molecules, have been synthesized. After deprotection, these spacer glycosides, containing a free carboxyl group, have been transformed efficiently into glycoconjugates using N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl(succinimido)uronium tetrafluoroborate (TSTU) for the formation of an active ester.