Strategically derivatized NPOE glycosyl donors, are able to efficiently glycosylate silylated nucleobases under mild conditions, even as low as -78 °C if necessary. Ensuring trans-1,2 glycosylation, thus permitting, unlike classical procedures, a Reverse Strategy for the synthesis of ribonucleosides, where glycosylation occurs late, rather than early, and convergency is optimized.