A β-D-glucose ligand terminating in a free hydroxyl through a hydrophilic PEG8 spacer. The hydroxyl provides a neutral, non-reactive terminus or a handle for further derivatization (e.g., activation or esterification). This compound provides a β-D-glucose building block for glycoconjugate synthesis, glycomimetic research, and the construction of probes for glucose-recognizing proteins and lectins.