Abstract Reaction of 1, 5-di-O-acetyl-2, 3-dideoxy-3-phthalimido-β-D-erythro-pentofuranose (1) with silylated pyrimidinediones 2a–c using the Lewis acid trimethylsilyl triflate as catalyst afforded nucleosides 3a–c and 4a, c which were deprotected with 33% methylamine/ethanol to give the corresponding 3-aminonucleosides 5a–c and 6. These were reacted with 1, 4- dinitroimidazoles 7a, b to give the 3-imidazolyldideoxynucleosides 8a, b and 9a–f. At sub- ...