2-O-Unprotected and 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-neuraminic acid derivatives 2, 4, and 10 exhibit enhanced acceptor properties at their 8-hydroxy group in sialylation reactions with phosphite 5 as donor; yet, mainly (10) or exclusively (2, 4) beta-glycoside bond formation was observed. The 3-phenylthionocarbonate group as stereodirecting auxiliary group in the sialyl donor 11 led with 10 as acceptor to exclusive formation of alpha(2-8)-linked disaccharide. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.