Efficient synthesis of several methylene-expanded oxetanocin nucleoside analogues

S-Glycidol 4 has been converted by a direct route via the dihydrofuran-3-methanols 9ab into a series of methylene-expanded oxetanocin nucleoside analogues, e.g., analogues of the normal nucleosides 2 and the known antiviral nucleosides, AZT, FdT, and ddC, 3.