Each of four ganglioside GM4and GM3analogues containing 2- or 3-branched fatty alkyl residues in place of ceramide have been synthesized. Coupling ofO-(methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (13) orO-(methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-D-glacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2→3)-O-(2,4-di-O-acetyl-6-O-benzoyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-3-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (14) with 2- or 3-branched fatty-alkyl-1-ols (9-12), prepared from the corresponding branched fatty acids by methyl esterification and reduction, using BF3Ot2gave the corresponding ganglioside analogues (15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29) in good yields, which were coverted, viaO-deacylation and de-esterification, into the title compounds.