Treatment of 2',3'-O-isopropylidene-5'-O-trityluridine (I) with 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride (II) in the presence of DMAP affords the sulfonic ester derivative (III). Subsequent displacement of sulfonate (III) with hydroxylamine leads to the protected N-hydroxycytidine (IV). The protecting groups of (IV) are finally removed with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid to furnish the title compound.