Glycomimetics are increasingly being recognised as powerful tools in the search for novel compounds that possess useful biological properties. This paper describes our preliminary efforts towards the development of novel mimetics of sialic acid thioglycosides. These sialylmimetics are readily prepared and have been shown, in some instances, to have biological properties similar to sialic acid thioglycosides. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.