A novel flexible assembly strategy is described for the modular synthesis of heparin and heparan sulfates. The reported strategy uses monomeric building bocks to construct the oligosaccharide chain to attain a maximum degree of flexibility. In the assembly, 1-hydroxyl glucosazido- and 1-thio uronic acid donors are combined in a sequential glycosylation protocol using sulfonium triflate activator systems. The key 1-thio uronic acids were obtained in an efficient manner from diacetone glucose employing a chemo- and regioselective oxidation of partially protected glucose and idose thioglycosides.