Diastereoselective and regioselective reactions on D-aldopentose mixtures: A possible reason for natureʹs choice of D-ribofuranose based nucleic acids?

Remarkably diastereoselective and regioselective reactions on an equimolar mixture of D-ribose, D-arabinose, D-xylose and D-lyxose are reported to give 5-O-functionalised D-ribofuranose derivatives.