A photochemical glycosylation is described using the chiral cyclobutanone 1. Irradiation of ketone 1 in me presence of monosaccharides 2 and 3 gives photoadducts derived from OH insertion of the transient carbene. The carbene inserts into the N-H group in the case of nucleoside 4. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.