<p>This invention relates to a new synthetic process for the manufacture of zidovudine from the starting material D-xylose involving: i) Conversion of D-xylose to a 1-( beta -D-xylofuranosyl)thymine derivative; ii) 2 min -Deoxygenation of the thymine derivative; and iii) 3 min -Azidation of the 2 min -deoxy compound. r</p>
