Antibacterial disaccharide and trisaccharide compounds structurally related to the moenomycin class of antibiotics in which the saccharide is covalently attached to a lipid, such as a C4-C30 aliphatic alcohol, via a bridging phosphorus atom. For a non-limiting example, a compound of formula (I) in which R is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl; R' is hydrogen or trifluoromethyl; and R'' may be formula (II) or an O-linked ether of a C4-C30 aliphatic alcohol. Disclosed compounds are effective as antibacterial agents, and formulations and methods of use in curing or preventing bacterial infections are disclosed.
