Ring transformation of pyrimidines to pyridines. Synthesis of 4-alkylaminopyridin-2-ones by alkaline hydrolysis of 6-(2-dimethylaminovinyl)uracils

Alkaline hydrolysis of 1,3-disubstituted 6-(2-dimethylaminovinyl)uracils 2 induced a novel ring transformation giving 4-alkylaminopyridin-2-ones 3 via ring-opening and ring-closure processes. The 4-methylamino-3-nitropyridin-2-one ( 3a ) thus obtained was employed for the synthesis of 3-deazahypoxanthine derivative 8. 4-Alkylamino-3-cyanopyridin-2-ones 11 , ricinine analogs, were also prepared by the reaction of 4-chloro-3-cyano-1-methylpyridin-2-one ( 10 ) with amines.