The amorphous 1-chloro derivative obtained by treating IV with ethereal hydrogen chloride at 0" could not be condensed with either silver theophylline, or with 6-chloropurine mercuri chloride, although the reactivity of the l-chlorine atom in a highly substituted ribose derivative was demonstrated by condensing 2, 3, 5-tri-O-benzoyl-~-ribo-f uranosyl chloride6 with silver theophylline to yield 7-(2, 3, 5-tri-0-benzoyl-~-~-ribofuranosyl)-theophylline (V).