Green chemistry multicomponent protocol for formylation and Knoevenagel condensation for synthesis of (Z)-5-arylaminomethylene pyrimidine 2, 4, 6-trione derivatives in water

A green, efficient, and novel one-pot multicomponent protocol was developed to achieve stereoselective (Z)-5-(arylpropenylidine)-2,4,6-pyrimidinetrione derivatives using a three-component reaction involving appropriate aromatic amines, formic acid, and barbituric acid using water as green solvent by conventional thermal heating process. In this way, N-formylation of various amines takes place. The resulted different formamides undergo Knoevenagel condensation with active methylene group containing compound, that is, barbituric acid. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral analysis (Fourier Transform Infrared [FT-IR], 1H nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR], 13C NMR, Heteronuclear Multiple-Bond Correlation [HMBC], Mass, UV spectroscopy) and elemental analysis. The multicomponent reactions (MCRs) showed good stereoselectivity.