Photochemical reactions of 1-methyl-4,6-diaryl-2(1H)-pyrimidinones in the presence of thiols

Photochemical reactions of 1-methyl-4,6-diaryl-2(1H)pyrimidinones 1a-b in the presence of thiols 2 are described. Irradiation of 1-methyl-4,6-diaryl-2(1H)-pyrimidinones 1a-b in benzene in the presence of thiols 2 gave the unexpected 2:1-adducts, 3-methyl-4,6-diaryl-5-aralkylthio-6-(1′-methyl-4′,6′-diaryldihydro-pyrimidin-2-on)yl-1,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.0]hexan-2-ones 3-6, of 1 and 2, whereas irradiation of 1a-b alone in benzene resulted in recovery of the unchanged 1a-b.