methanol followed by Zemplen deacetylation. Methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside, methyl beta-D-xylobioside and methyl beta-D-xylotrioside were subjected to treatment with dibutyltin oxide followed by reaction with the trimethylamine/sulfurtrioxide complex in tetrahydrofuran. This way, preferential sulfation of the terminal 4-hydroxy group at the nonreducing xylopyranosyl unit was achieved. In addition, partial sulfation