Newly available enantiomeric 2,3-dideoxy glycals, (5S)- and (5R)-4,5-dihydro-5-[(triphenylmethoxy)methyl]furans and 2,4-dimethoxy-5-iodopyrimidine undergo palladium-mediated coupling by two different, complementary procedures to form enantiomeric pairs of (2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrofuranosyl)- and (2',4'-dideoxy-3',4'-didehydrofuranosyl)pyrimidine C-nucleosides. Stereoselective reductions of the carbohydrate unsaturations produce all four enantio- and diastereoisomers of 2,4-dimethoxy-5-(2,3-dideoxy-5-O-tritylribofuranosyl)pyrimidine