Acidic 1,3-azolium salts are prepared from Bronsted acids and 1,3-azoles such as imidazole, thiazole, and oxazole. Acidic imidazolium salts are frequently employed as promoters for the synthesis of nucleotides using the phosphoramidite method in a solution phase. Recently, it was revealed that thiazolium and oxazolium salts catalyzed Vorbruggen-type N-glycosylation reactions to give nucleosides. These reactivities are attributed to the stronger Bronsted acidities of the thiazolium and oxazolium salts relative to those of the imidazolium salts. This digest focuses on recent progress in the applicability of acidic 1,3-azolium salts as promoters in the solution-phase synthesis of nucleosides and nucleotides. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.