Glycosylation with phenyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-2-O-triisopropylsilyl (TIPS)-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside is highly 1,2-cis-stereoselective, while the use of 2,3-di-O-TIPS glucosyl donor with benzoyl groups at O-4 and O-6 results in the loss of α-stereoselectivity (α/β = 3 : 1). Complete α-stereocontrol with 2-O-TIPS substituted glucosyl donors could only be achieved in glucosylation of weak nucleophiles. In this case, the glucosylation seems to proceed along the S N 1-like pathway via the 4 H 3 conformer of glycosyl cation stabilized by the bulky TIPS group at O-2.