[structure: see text]. The first synthesis of 2'-C-beta-trifluoromethyl pyrimidine ribonucleosides is described. 1,2,3,5-Tetra-O-benzoyl-2-C-beta-trifluoromethyl-alpha-D-ribofuranose (3) is prepared from 1,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-ribofuranose (1) in three steps and converted to 3,5-di-O-benzoyl-2-C-beta-trifluoromethyl-alpha-D-1-ribofuranosyl bromide (5). The 1-bromo derivative (5) is found to be a powerful reaction intermediate for the synthesis of ribonucleosides. The reaction of silylated pyrimidines with (5) in the presence of HgO/HgBr2 affords exclusively the beta-anomers (6-8). Deprotection of (6-8) with ammonia in methanol yields the 2'-C-beta-trifluoromethyl nucleosides (9-11).