5‐Heteroarylthymine analogs (5) were synthesized via binucleophilic attack with bidentate thiols on the cyano group of cyanoacetylurea to form the heteroarylurea derivatives (2–4) followed by their cyclization with formamide. Also, their nucleosides 6a and 6b with 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐D‐glucopyranose were prepared. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:209–212, 2000