The present invention provides novel, regioselectively-acylated oligosaccharide compounds and methods for preparing them. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for preparing a selectively-acylated oligosaccharide. The method includes forming a reaction mixture containing a protected oligosaccharide and an acylating agent. The protected oligosaccharide includes at least three hydroxyl moieties and each hydroxyl moiety is protected with a silyl protecting group. The reaction mixture is formed under conditions sufficient to selectively replace at least one silyl protecting group with a —C(0)-C1_6 alkyl group, and the selectively-acylated oligosaccharide comprises at least one —C(0)-C1_6 alkyl group and at least one silyl protecting group.