The trifluoroacetylation of thymidine at room temperature was performed using trifluoroacetic acid phenylester in pyridine. A selective protection of the 5′-position was not possible: Even low molar quantities of the trifluoroacetylating agent gave rise to bis-trifluoroacetylation. The bis-trifluoroacetyl derivatives of thymidine and 5-bromo-deoxyuridine were purified by vacuum sublimation. The completely trifluoroacetylated deoxyribosides of uracil, 5-iodouracil and adenine underwent decomposition during sublimation.