The protic acid-catalyzed polymerization of 1,6-anhydro-6-D-glucopyranose (I) was first reported one-half century ago; however, the mechanism of this reaction has not been resolved and is the topic under investigation in this thesis. In an attempt to resolve this mechanism, a number of 1,6-anhydrides structurally related to 1,6-anhydro-B-D-glucopyranose (I) were prepared and polymerized. The C-2, C-3, or C-4 hydroxyl group was either specifically blocked, replaced by a hydrogen atom or positioned different sterically. The relative rates of disappearance of monomer in the polymerization reaction were measured and this information used to propose a reaction mechanism.