A process for preparing 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine of the formula ##STR1## wherein B is adenine, wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-12 acyl, C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.7-8 aralkyl, or silyl, said process comprising:reducing a nucleoside of the formula IIIa or IIIb ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-12 acyl, C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.7-8 aralkyl or silyl; X is Cl, Br or I; R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-12 acyl and B is adenine, with hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst and aqueous solvent mixture of acetonitrile or ethyl acetate and water, said aqueous solvent containing a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide/sodium acetate and sodium carbonate/sodium acetate, wherein said solvent has a pH of 9-11.