Uronic acids, most efficiently synthesised from the corresponding alcohols by two step Dess- Martin and sodium chlorite mediated oxidation, may be used as coupling partners for esterification with an allo glycal as substrates for the tandem Tebbe/Claisen approach to the synthesis of 1-6 linked C-disaccharides. Whilst esters of glucuronic and mannuronic acids successfully undergo Tebbe methylenation, esters derived from galacturonic acids are ...