Synthesis of N2-arylaminopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives via SNAr amination reaction

An efficient and high-yielding synthesis of N2-arylaminopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives starting from arylamines and 2-methylthio-pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives has been developed in the presence of cesium carbonate as basic reagent. This new protocol showed high chemical tolerance for a range of functional groups, and only the methylthio substituent on C2 of the pyrimidine ring was replaced with arylamine derivatives under the reaction conditions.