[GRAPHICS] Reported herein is a general method for the efficient syntheses of a variety of beta -cyano glycosides through the activation of per-O-trimethylsllyl glycosides with TMSI to form alpha -glycosyl iodides, which undergo S(N)2-type displacement when treated with tetrabutylammonium cyanide. The cyanoglycosides were reduced under mild conditions using NaBH4 in the presence of catalytic CoCl2(H2O)(6) in THF/H2O to give the corresponding aminomethyl glycosides.