Treatment of 'armed'methyl thiogalactosides with iodine in the absence of an acceptor alcohol results in thioglycoside epimerisation, whereas there is no effect on the corresponding 'disarmed'methyl thioglycosides. In contrast, iodine–hexamethyldisilane (which generates iodotrimethylsilane in situ) brings about epimerisation of 'disarmed' thioglycosides, ultimately giving rise to the corresponding α-glycosyl iodides on extended ...