There is disclosed a process which comprises the steps of:(a) reacting a di(hydrocarbyl)tin oxide such as a dialkyltin oxide with a dihydric alcohol, alkanolamine, or an enolizable .alpha.-hydroxyketone in an inert organic reaction vehicle, with removal of water, at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce a cyclic adduct of said dialkyltin oxide and said dihydric alcohol, alkanolamine, or enolizable .alpha.-hydroxyketone;(b) reacting said cyclic adduct product of Step (a) with sucrose in an inert organic reaction vehicle such as a dipolar aprotic liquid, at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce a 6-O-[dihydrocarbyl(hydroxy- or amino- or oxohydrocarbyl)stannoxyl]sucrose; and(c) reacting the product of Step (b) with an acylating agent to produce a sucrose-6-ester.