The title nucleoside 9 was synthesized by alkylation of 8-oxoadenosine (7) with 4-benzyloxy-3,5 dibromobenzyl bromide, followed by Dimroth rearrangement and acid hydrolysis. 2'-Deoxy version of this reaction sequence accomplished the first synthesis of aplidiamine (6). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.