Purines, pyrimidines, and related fused systems. 20. Heterocyclizations of 6-alkynyl-1,3-dimethyllumazines. Synthesis of pyrrole and thiophene analogs of some natural pteridines

Sonogashira cross-coupling of 6-chloro-1,3-dimethyllumazine with terminal alkynes gave 6-alkynyl derivatives in good yields. Oxidative amination of the latter with primary alkylamines was accompanied by the pyrrole-ring closure to form 1-R"-2-R-6,8-dimethylpyrrolo3,2-g]pteridine-5,7(6H,8H)-diones. The addition of bromine to 6-alkynyllumazines afforded the corresponding dibromoalkenes whose treatment with sodium trithiocarbonate gave rise to 2-R-6,8-dimethylthieno3,2-g]pteridine-5,7(6H,8H)-diones. The latter compounds are close analogs of the metabolite of molybdenum cofactor (molybdopterine).