The selective dibutyltin oxide-mediated benzoylation of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranoside at position 2 is not a post-acylation phenomenon as is the case with the equivalent benzoylation of phenylethyleneglycol. H-1 NMR temperature studies have shown that such equilibration occurs only above 85 degrees C in toluene-d(8) for the glucopyranoside. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.