A one-step transformation of hydroxyl groups in carbohydrates to bromo groups is presented.

The usefulness of ρ-methoxybenzyl as a protecting group of the anomeric center is examined. Reductive elimination by treatment of acetylated deoxyhalo sugar derivatives using zinc powder in ethanol containing acetic acid to give unsaturation is described.

Syntheses of ρ-trifluoroacetamidophenyl 3-0(2-0-acetyl-3,6-dideoxy-α-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl)-α-D-mannopyranoside and some deoxy analogues and syntheses of sodium 5-iodo-uridine-5'-carboxylate and sodium 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-carboxylate are described.