A β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAcβ) ligand equipped with an amine-functionalized linker through a short ethyl spacer. The primary amine can be covalently coupled with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) activated esters to form stable amide bonds, providing a straightforward route to conjugate the ligand onto NHS-activated molecules and surfaces. This compound provides a β-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAcβ) building block for glycoconjugate synthesis and the construction of probes for GlcNAc-recognizing proteins, including lectins and antibodies. It is also relevant to O-GlcNAc and N-glycan biosynthesis research and serves as a substrate for galactosyltransferases and other glycosyltransferases.