The synthesis of 3-deoxy-1,2,O-isopropylidene-3-C-trifluoromethyl-α-D-ribofuranose is described. After a first approach from a commercial D-xylose derivative which was limited by an incomplete stereoselectivity, the synthesis of the title compound was performed from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose by a reaction sequence where key steps: trifluoromethylation with CF3SiMe3and radical deoxygenation are highly stereoselective.