Abstract
1-O-Acetyl-3,5-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-4-thio-α,β-D-ribofuranose and its 3-azido analogue have been prepared by an efficient route starting from L-arabinose. A key intermediate in this route is 2-deoxy-4,5-O-isopropylidene-L-erythro-pentose dibenzyl dithioacetal which is readily substituted in the 3-position thus offering extensive scope for the synthesis of 3-substituted 2-deoxy-4-thio-α,β-D-ribofuranoses and subsequent nucleoside derivatives.