The synthesis of potential anticancer and antitumour nucleosides, 2′-deoxy-5- monofluoromethyluridine (FTDR) and 2′-deoxy-5-difluoromethyluridine (FTDR) was achieved in four steps from thymidine including monosilylation with t-butyldiphenylsilyl chioride, photochemical brominatio, followed by AgF treatment and subse