The present invention provides a method for the preparation of 5-azacytidine,
wherein 5-azacytidine is represented by the structure:
##STR1##
The method involves the silylation of 5-azacytosine, followed by the coupling
of silylated 5-azacytosine to a protected -D-ribofuranose derivative. The
coupling reaction is catalyzed by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMS-Triflate).