Abstract Natural-abundance, 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy was used to study the binding of Gd3+ and Mn2+ to N-acetyl-2-O-methyl-α-neuraminic acid (2) and to methyl N-acetyl-2-O-methyl-α-neuraminate (3). The results showed that Gd3+ and Mn2+ bind in the region of the glycerol-1-yl side-chain and the 5-acetamido group of compound 3. When the α-NeuAc derivative contains a carboxylate anion, as in compound 2, multiple, metal-ion-binding sites occur, involving the head (the carboxyl end) and the tail (the glycerol-1-yl and 5-acetamido groups) of the molecule.