Dimethyl disulfide reacts with triflic anhydride to provide a highly reactive electrophile. Various thioglycosides, differing in their thio aglycons,carbohydrate units, and protecting group pattern, were activated with Me
2S
2-Tf
2O in the presence of different glycosyl acceptors. The reactionsproceeded at low temperatures within a short time, affording oligosaccharides in high yields both on primary and secondary hydroxyls.Armed and disarmed glycosyl donors were activated equally efficiently.