The use of methyl 5-0-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-deoxy-α, β -D-threo-pentofuranoside, prepared from D-xylose,as a divergent intermediate for the synthesis of 3'-substituted-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides is illustrated by its conversion into 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine and 3'-cyano-3'-deoxythymidine. © 1988.
