The coupling of the sodium salt of 6-methylpurine with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-alpha-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl chloride in acetonitrile gives the di-O-p-toluoyl protected 9-beta nucleoside regio- and stereo-selectively in good yield. Methoxide deprotection followed by preparative hplc then affords pure 6-methyl-9-(2-deoxy-beta-D- erythro-pentofuranosyl)purine.