This invention relates to a new synthetic process for the manufacture of zidovudine from the starting material D-xylose involving: (i) Conversion of D-xylose to a 1-(.beta.-D-xylofuranosyl)thymine derivative: (ii) 2'-Deoxygenation of the thymaine derivative; and (iii) 3'-Azidation of the 2'-deoxy compound.