The selective preparation of 1,4-diaryl-6-methyl- and 1,6-diaryl-4-methyl-2-(1H)pyrimidinones

N-Phenylurea reacted with benzoylacetone derivatives (I) to give 1,4-diaryl-6-methyl-2-(1H)pyrimidinones (II) in addition to low yields of 1,6-diaryl-4-methyl-2-(1H)pyrimidinones (IV), while N-phenylthiourea afforded only 1,6-diaryl-4-methyl-2-(1H)pyrimidinethiones (III) in good yields. Further 1,6-diaryl-4-methyl-2-(1H)- pyrimidinethiones (III) were successfully converted in satisfactory yields into the corresponding 2-(1H)-pyrimidinones (IV) by the treatment with methyl iodide in the presence of sodium methoxide in methanol at room temperature.