AbstractA novel and convenient method for the synthesis of guanosine is described. The reaction of AICA‐riboside with sodium methylxanthate gave 2‐mercaptoinosine in almost quantitative yield. The latter was oxidized with hydrogen peroxide to afford inosine‐2‐sulfonic acids, which was readily animated to give guanosine in excellent yield. Similarly, the preparation ofN2‐methylguanosine andN2,N2‐dimethylguanosine, minor constituents of transfer RNA, was also accomplished. Furthermore, this procedure was extended to the synthesis of 2′,3′‐O‐isopropylideneguanosine and the isopropylidene derivatives of variousN2‐substituted guanosines from 2′,3′‐O‐isopropylidene‐AICA‐riboside. Guanosine via 2′,3′‐O‐isopropylideneguanosine was successfull