The present invention relates to fluorine-containing monosaccharides that are useful for forming extracellular fluorinated glycoconjugates. Methods of forming extracellular fluorinated glycoconjugates comprise the steps of contacting a cell with a fluorine-containing monosaccharide, and incubating the cell under conditions whereby the cell internalizes the fluorine-containing monosaccharide, or a derivative thereof, on the surface of the cell. The present invention also relates to the use of a fluorine-containing monosaccharide in cellular imaging using fluorine NMR. The invention additionally relates to the use of fluorine containing monosaccharides in the treatment of cancer and inflammatory disease.