Among 18 oxometallic species, MoO2Cl2 was found to be the most reactive in catalytic thioglycosylation of O-acetylated glycosides with functionalized thiols in CH2Cl2, leading cleanly to 1,2-trans-thioglycosides with exclusive diastereocontrol. The new catalytic protocol is applicable to a monoglycoside building block and beta-(1 -> 6)-S-linked-thiodisaccharide synthesis.