Abstract The nucleoside derivative 1-(3-azido-2, 3-dideoxy-beta-D-ribo-hexofuranosyl) thymine has been synthesized from 3-0-benzyl-1, 2-0-isopropylidene-alpha-D- glucofuranose-5, 6-carbonate in an overall yield of 16%. The key step in the synthesis involves the selective deacetylation of a nucleoside derivative having a cyclic carbonate moiety.