A method of preparing a compound having the Formula VIIA: wherein: R 1 is chosen from hydrogen, hydroxyl, an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons, phosphate, sulfate, -OR 7, a protecting group, and a saccharide; R 2, R 3, R 4, and R 5 are each independently chosen from hydrogen, sulfate, hydroxyl, -OR 8, a protecting group and a saccharide; R 6 is chosen from hydrogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, amino, amide, alkyamino, aminoalkyl, aminoxy, hydrazide, hydrazine, optionally substituted alkenyl, and optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkyl; R 7 and R 8 are each independently chosen from acetyl and an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons; and n is an integer from 1 to 10; comprising: a) treating a compound having the Formula VIIIA: wherein: R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 9 and R 10 are chosen from hydrogen and hydroxyl, such that when one of R 9 and R 10 is hydroxyl, the other is hydrogen; with a compound having the Formula R 11 R 12 (Sn=O) to form a compound having the Formula IXA: wherein: R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently chosen from unsubstituted alkyl, or R 11 and R 12, taken together, are chosen from unsubstituted alkylene; and b) treating the compound of Formula IXA, optionally in the presence of a metal halide, with a compound having the Formula R 6 -(CH 2) n -L, wherein: R 6 and n are as defined above; and L is a halogen; to form the compound of Formula VIIA. R 1 is chosen from hydrogen, hydroxyl, an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons, phosphate, sulfate, -OR 7, a protecting group, and a saccharide; R 2, R 3, R 4, and R 5 are each independently chosen from hydrogen, sulfate, hydroxyl, -OR 8, a protecting group and a saccharide; R 6 is chosen from hydrogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, amino, amide, alkyamino, aminoalkyl, aminoxy, hydrazide, hydrazine, optionally substituted alkenyl, and optionally substituted C 2 -C 6 alkyl; R 7 and R 8 are each independently chosen from acetyl and an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons; and n is an integer from 1 to 10; comprising: a) treating a compound having the Formula VIIIA: wherein: R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 9 and R 10 are chosen from hydrogen and hydroxyl, such that when one of R 9 and R 10 is hydroxyl, the other is hydrogen; with a compound having the Formula R 11 R 12 (Sn=O) to form a compound having the Formula IXA: wherein: R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently chosen from unsubstituted alkyl, or R 11 and R 12, taken together, are chosen from unsubstituted alkylene; and b) treating the compound of Formula IXA, optionally in the presence of a metal halide, with a compound having the Formula R 6 -(CH 2) n -L, wherein: R 6 and n are as defined above; and L is a halogen; to form the compound of Formula VIIA. a) treating a compound having the Formula VIIIA: wherein: R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 9 and R 10 are chosen from hydrogen and hydroxyl, such that when one of R 9 and R 10 is hydroxyl, the other is hydrogen; with a compound having the Formula R 11 R 12 (Sn=O) to form a compound having the Formula IXA: wherein: R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently chosen from unsubstituted alkyl, or R 11 and R 12, taken together, are chosen from unsubstituted alkylene; and R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 9 and R 10 are chosen from hydrogen and hydroxyl, such that when one of R 9 and R 10 is hydroxyl, the other is hydrogen; with a compound having the Formula R 11 R 12 (Sn=O) to form a compound having the Formula IXA: R 1 through R 5 are as defined above; and R 11 and R 12 are each independently chosen from unsubstituted alkyl, or R 11 and R 12, taken together, are chosen from unsubstituted alkylene; and b) treating the compound of Formula IXA, optionally in the presence of a metal halide, with a compound having the Formula R 6 -(CH 2) n -L, wherein: R 6 and n are as defined above; and L is a halogen; to form the compound of Formula VIIA. R 6 and n are as defined above; and L is a halogen; to form the compound of Formula VIIA.