An efficient α-sialylation method for many primary hydroxyl acceptors that include 6-OH glycosides has been developed. 7,8-Di- O -picoloyl sialyl glycoside was used as the glycosyl donor, and α-glycoconjugation was controlled by using the 7,8-di- O -picoloyl moiety in CH 2 Cl 2 . The methodology was successfully applied to the total synthesis of ganglioside Hp-s1 possessing neuritogenic activity.