The thiobenzoylation of the readily available 2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-O-tosyl-L-arabinose diethyl dithioacetal (I) gives the 5-S-thiobenzoate (II), which is treated with HgO and BF3/Et2O in THF/water gives the corresponding aldehyde (III). The cyclization of (III) with NaOMe in methanol affords the cyclic arabinopyranose (IV), which is deprotected with AcOH giving 5-O-benzoyl-beta-D-arabinopyranose (V). The acetylation of (V) with Ac2O yields the triacetate (VI), which is condensed with 4-nitrothiophenol (VII) by means of K2CO3 in refluxing acetone affording the acylated dithio-beta-D-arabinopyranoside (VIII). Finally, this compound is deacylated with NaOMe in MeOH.