The use of glycals 3 and 4 as precursors to 1,2-anhydrosugars greatly simplifies the installation of a beta-linked ceramide glycoside. By permuting the introduction of the ceramide and the sialic acid, one can access the ganglioside G(M4) (1) and, by an unexpected regioselective glycosylation, its NeuAc (2-->2) Gal positional isomer 10.