A new method for benzylation of carbohydrates has been developed which facilitated complete substitution of hydroxyl groups in one of the compounds prepared. Thin layer chromatography provides a good criterion of purity and is also a preparative method for separation of identifiable amounts of O-benzyl derivatives of carbohydrates. The number of benzyl groups in a compound can be determined by ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. The following compounds were prepared, some of which have not been reported previously: benzyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-D-glucoside; benzyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-β-D-glucoside; methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-D-glucoside; 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-D-glucose; l-O-(p-nitro-benzoyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-D-glucose; octa-O-benzyl sucrose; 3,5-di-O-benzyl-1,2-O-cyclohexylidene-α-D-xylose.