Methods to allow the clean preparation of oligosaccharides were investigated using techniques that do not require conventional column chromatography or an aqueous work-up. The route was designed to provide rapid access to oligosaccharides and is suitable for automation and parallel library formation. The research has focused on the glycosidations of a range of glycosyl acceptors with various selenophenyl glycosyl donors using iodine as an activator in the presence of DTBMP, a hindered organic base. Hydroxyl-containing contaminants were removed by scavenging with polymer-supported tosyl chloride.