electron-deficient reagent from the α-face of the sugar ring. Subsequently, the 3′-nitro group from 3, 14, 17, 22 and 25 was removed by the action of Bu3SnH and AIBN to give 3′--substituted nucleosides 27 – 44 [threo (major) and erythro (minor)] which suggested that the intermediary 3′-carbon radical abstracted the hydrogen atom preferentially from the α-face. The stereochemistry of the productsfrom the base-catalyzed