Stereocontrolled, stepwise synthesis of decyl glycosides of α-(1→ 2)-linked di-to pentaglucosides (1–5) is described; these constitute fragments of Polysaccharide II of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Phenyl 3, 4, 6-tri-O-acetyl-2-O-benzyl-1-thio-α-d- glucopyranoside (7) was used as the single key intermediate, obtained from 1, 3, 4, 6-tetra-O- acetyl-2-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranose (6) and PhSSiMe3. Halogenolysis of 7 afforded the ...