In order to study its potential as a cancer therapy target, Globo H has been synthesized in the laboratory. One synthesis is achieved by first building two trisaccharides from their component sugars, and then linking them. The trisaccharides, with most of their functional groups protected to prevent side reactions, are linked by creating the GalNAcβ(1-3)Gal bond. A thioethyl group is added to the 1 position on one of the protected galactose rings, and in the presence of methyl triflate, this reacts with the hydroxyl group on the 3 position of the other galactose to link the trisaccharides and form the hexasaccharide. The ceramide is added to the 1 position of the terminal glucose ring after hexasaccharide formation.