a) Syntheses of 1a and 1b, reagents and conditions: i) semicarbazide hydrochloride (3) (1.1 equiv.), H2O, 60°C, 17h, ii) add. 1 M NaOH aq. (3 equiv.), 60°C, 4h, iii) BSA (3 equiv.), CH3CN, rt, 30′, iv) β-D-ribofuranose 1-acetate 2,4,5-tribenzoate (6) (1.1 equiv.), TMSOTf (1.1 equiv.), CH3CN, 85°C, 30′, v) NH3/MeOH, 60°C, 24h; and b) structures of reported 5-(thiophene-2-yl)-2′-deoxyuridine (8a) and 5-(furan-2-yl)-2′-deoxyuridine (8b).