[reaction: see text] An efficient procedure for the stereoselective synthesis of aryl alpha-C-glycosides is presented. The key step of the method is the intramolecular delivery of the aryl group from a 2-O-aryldialkylsilyl substituent to the anomeric carbon by an electrophilic ipso-desilylation; this process leads exclusively to the product having the 1,2-cis configuration.