Summary : Addition of peracetylated 1-thiosugars to alkenes in the presence of azobis(isobutyronihile) (AIBN) as initiator constitutes an efficient route to alkyl 1-thioglycosides as well as to 1-thioglycosides bearing a reactive group on the aglycon. ... We have recently reported the preparation of macromolecular conjugates suitable for the study of various biological phenomena including affinity-labeling of cell &tins, by telomerization of unsaturated monomers ...