Zwitterionic Salts from the Reaction of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical (thio)Barbituric Acids with 2‐Pyridinecarbaldehyde under Solvent‐free Condition

A simple and efficient synthesis for the preparation of unusual charge‐separated pyridinium (thio)barbiturate zwitterion derivatives was achieved via a one‐pot reaction of (thio)barbituric acid derivatives and 2‐pyridinecarbaldehyde under solvent‐free condition and also in methanol under refluxing. The structure of the compounds was confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT‐IR, mass and X‐ray analysis. The mechanism of the formation is discussed. Instead, no related pyridinium zwitterion was afforded from the reaction between dimedone and 2‐pyridinecarbaldehyde under the same conditions and its xanthene derivative was obtained.