Synthesis of 6-substituted pyrimidines by the wittig reaction. I. Via 2-amino-4-hydroxy-5-phenylbutylpyrimidine-6-carboxaldehyde

Condensation of isopropyl 6-phenylhexanoate with ethyl diethoxyacetate followed by guanidine afforded 2 - amino-6-diethoxymethyl-5-phenylbutyl-4-pyrimidinol (VII). Acid hydrolysis of VII gave an excellent yield of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-5-phenylbutylpyrimidine-6-carboxaldehyde (IV); the latter could be condensed with stabilized Wittig reagents such as carbethoxymethylene triphenyl phosphorane and cinnamylidene triphenyl phosphorane, but not unstabilized Wittig reagents such as carbethoxypropylene or cyano-propylene triphenyl phosphorane. Reduction of the Wittig products afforded pyrimidines with functionalized side-chains in the 6-position such as the 6-phenylbutyl (XVIII) and 6-carboxyethyl (XV) derivatives of 2-amino-5-phenylbutyl-4-pyrimidinol.