Fluorination of 4,5-dichloro-2-nitroaniline (I) with 1-fluoro-4-hydroxy-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoborate) (II) gave fluoroaniline (III). The nitro group of (III) was then reduced by hydrogenation over Raney-Ni to afford phenylenediamine (IV). This was cyclized with isopropyl isothiocyanate in the presence of 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate as the desulfurizing agent to yield benzimidazole (V). Coupling with 1,2,3-tri-O-acetyl-5-deoxy-D-ribofuranose (VI) using trimethylsilyl triflate and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide produced a mixture of regioisomeric ribofuranosyl benzimidazoles (VII) and (VIII), which were separated by column chromatography. Finally, deprotection of the acetate esters from the major isomer (VII) with Na2CO3 provided the title compound.