A general method to determine the absolute configuration of the glycerol moiety in glycopyranosyl glycerols is presented, which involves per-O-benzylation and acid hydrolysis of the glycosyl glycerol to give optically active 1, 2- or 2, 3-di-O-benzylated sn-glycerol (III). ORD and CD measurements of III and its benzoylated derivatives gave intensive optical rotations or Cotton effects to determine the absolute configuration at C2.
