The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound of formula 682-4, said process comprising the steps of: (i) converting a compound of formula 682-1 into a compound of formula 682-2 (ii) converting said compound of formula 682-2&prime into a compound of formula 682-3 and (iii) converting said compound of formula 682-3 into a compound of formula 682-4. Further aspects of the invention relate to the use of the above process in the preparation of 2&prime-cyano-2&prime-deoxy-N4-palmitoyl-1-&bgr-D-arabmofuranosylcytosine, a pyrimidine nucleoside which is therapeutically useful in the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.