Benzyl 2-azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranoside was converted into benzyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranoside via benzylidenation, p-methoxybenzylation, acid hydrolysis, benzylation, and selective oxidation. Condensation of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranose with benzyl 2-azido-4,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranoside in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate gave crystalline benzyl 2-azido-4,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-ga lactopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (76%), which was converted into benzyl 2-azido-4,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,6-di-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopy ranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside and condensed with 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide in the presence of silver silicate on alumina and molecular sieve 4 A to give 61% of benzyl O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)- O-(2,6-di- O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----3)-2-azido-4,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deo xy- beta-D-galactopyranoside. Reduction with sodium borohydride followed by N-acetylation, O-deacetylation, and catalytic hydrogenolysis then gave O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----4)-O-beta-D-gal actopyranosyl-(1----3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactopyranose, the desialylated human Cad-antigenic determinant.