The sialyl Lewis X (SLe{sup x}) determinant (NeuAc-{alpha}-2,3-Gal-{beta}-1,4-[Fuc-{alpha}-1,3]-GlcNAc), compound 1, is a ligand for E-selectin (endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule 1, or ELAM-1), a member of the selectin family of cell adhesion molecules. Interactions between E-selectin and leucocyte-bound SLe{sup x} or closely related oligosaccharides are thought to be important early events in the inflammation process. Binding analysis has shown that the sialic acid (NeuAc) and the fucose (Fuc) moieties are essential for high affinity. The related desialylated trisaccharide Le{sup x} (Gas-{beta}-1,4-[Fuc-{alpha}-1,3]-GlcNAc), for example, is not a high-affinity ligand for E-selectin. In this communication, the authors describe the syntheses of SLe{sup x} 1 and the {beta}-O-allyl glycoside of Le{sup x} 2 using a cloned fucosyltransferase and their complete NMR spectral assignments including ROESY and NOESY experiments in order to investigate the conformation of these compounds in solution. 25 refs., 2 figs.