| Abstract: | We wish to report an improved, general synthesis of 4-aryl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylates 1. Two different routes have previously been reported for the synthesis of examples of this class of pyrimidine carboxylates. The parent compound, ethyl 4-phenyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylate was prepared in low yield by the reaction of s-triazine with ethyl benzoyl acetate. In addition, the enol ether β-ketoaldehyde synthon, ethyl 2-benzoyl-3-ethoxy-2-propenoate, was reported to give 1a in modest yield when reacted with guanidine (2). |
