Synthesis of novel dihydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinone derivatives

Condensation of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-2-mercaptopyrimidine (2) hydrate and ethyl 4-bromocrotonate gave a mixture of ethyl 7-amino-2,3-dihydro-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo3,2-a]pyrimidine-3-acetate (4) and 2a,3-dihydro-1-thia-5,8,8b-triazaacenaphthylene-4,7(2H)-dione (5) whereas reaction of 2 with 4-bromocrotononitrile afforded only 7-amino-2,3-dihydro-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo3,2-a] pyrimidine-3-acetonitrile. Reaction of the tricycle 5 (which was isolated as a hemihydrate) with excess methyl iodide/potassium carbonate in dimethylformamide resulted in both ring hydrolysis and methylation to give 3,4-dihydro-1,7-dimethyl-4- (methylthio)methyl]-2H-pyrimido1,6-a]pyrimidine-2,6,8(1H,7H)-trione (10). Methylating 5 with excess methyl iodide/sodium methoxide in methanol also resulted in ring fragmentation and methylation but instead afforded methyl 7-methyl-amino-2,3-dihydro-5-oxo-7H-thiazolo3,2-a]pyrimidine-3-acetate. The mechanistic aspects of these reactions are discussed.