A first total synthesis of a β-series ganglioside GQ1β (IV3Neu5Acα2, III6Neu5Acα2-Gg4Cer) is described. Regio- and stereoselective dimeric sialylation of the hydroxyl group at C-6 of the GalNAc residue in 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethylO-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-levulinyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-(2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) with methyl [phenyl 5-acetamido-8-O-(5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylono-1′,9-lactone)-4,7-di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate (4) usingN-iodosuccinimide (NIS)-trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) as a promoter gave the desired pentasaccharide5containing α-glycosidically-linked dimeric sialic acids. This was transformed into the acceptor6by removal of the levulinyl group. Condensation of methylO-[methyl 5-acetamido-8-O-(5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylono-1′,9-lactone)-4,7-di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate]-(2→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (7) with6, using dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium triflate (DMTST) as a promoter, gave the desired octasaccharide derivative8in high yield. Compound8was converted into α-trichloroacetimidate11,viareductive removal of the benzyl groups,O-acetylation, removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, and treatment with trichloroacetonitrile, which, on coupling with (2S,3R,4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (12), gave the β-glycoside13. Finally,13was transformed,viaselective reduction of the azido group, coupling with octadecanoic acid,O-deacylation, and hydrolysis of the methyl ester group, into the title ganglioside15in good yield.