Treatment of 2,4-dihydroxypyridine (I) with hexamethyldisilazane (A) gives 2,4-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)pyridine (II). Condensation of (II) with 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-D-ribofuranosyl bromide (III) gives a 68% yield 2',3',5'-tri-O-benzoyl-3-deazauridine (IV). Deblocking of (IV) with alcoholic ammonia gives 3-deazauridine in 88% crude yield.