Pyrimidines. 21. Novel reactions of 5-cyano-1,3-dimethyluracil with carbon nucleophiles. A facile preparation of certain pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines

Treatment of 5-cyano-1,3-dimethyluracil ( 8 ) with an activated acetonitrile, such as malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate or cyanoacetamide, in base afforded 7-amino-6-cyano-, 7-amino-6-ethoxycarbonyl-, and 7-amino-6-aminocarbonyl-1,3-dimethylpyrido2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione ( 18b, 18c and 18d , respectively) in high yields. On the other hand, reaction of 8 with acetonitrile in base gave the Michael adduct, 5-cyano-6-cyanomethyl-5,6-dihydrouracil ( 15 , R = H), and the hydrated product, 1,3-dimethyluracil-5-carboxamide ( 9 ) as the major products, and 7-amino-1,3-dimethylpyrido2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione ( 18a ) in only very low yield. Similar reaction with butanone gave 7-ethyl-1,3-dimethyl- and 1,3,6,7-tetramethylpyrido2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione ( 10b and 10c ) in low yields. When 8 was treated with diethylmalonate in base, only a small amount of 6-ethoxycarbonyl-1,3-dimethylpyrido2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4,7(1H,3H,8H)-trione ( 19 ) was obtained together with 1,3-dimethylpyrido2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione ( 20 ) and 18c (also in low yields). Treatment of 8 in ethanolic sodium ethoxide without added carbon nucleophile gave significant amounts (14%) of 20 and a small amount of 18c .