Di-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (BDPS)-thymidine (2) was converted to α-bromo-3', 5'-di-O-BDPS- thymidine (3) by photobromination. Crude 3 was hydrolyzed to the α-hydroxythymidine derivative 4 which was oxidized with MnO 2 to the 5-formyluracil nucleoside 5. Fluorination