Abstract 2-Deoxy-D-ribose (1) was converted into its methyl glycofuranoside 2, which was treated with 4-biphenylcarbonyl chloride to give a separable mixture of 3 (26%) and 4 (40%). Compounds 3 and 4 were deoxygenated by Barton deoxygenation to give the corresponding 2, 3-dideoxyribose derivatives 7 and 8 in good yields as crystalline materials. Reaction of 7 and 8 with the silylated N 4-isobutyrylcytosine 9, using trimethylsilyl triflate ...