Derivatives are synthesized of starting materials, usually polysaccharides, having sialic acid at the reducing terminal end, in which the reducing terminal unit is transformed into an aldehyde group. Where the polysaccharide has a sialic acid unit at the non-reducing end it may be passivated, for instance by converting into hydroxyl-substituted moiety. The derivatives may be reacted with substrates, for instance containing amine or hydrazine groups, to form non-cross-linked polysialylated compounds. The substrates may, for instance, be therapeutically useful drugs peptides or proteins or drug delivery systems.