Synthesis of Nicotinic Acid Derivatives by the Reaction of Salts of 1-Alkyl-4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinylacetic Acid Esters with Amines

A study was carried out on the enamine rearrangement of iodoalkylates of the ethyl ester of 4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinylacetic acid to give ethyl esters of 2-alkylamino-4,6-dimethylnicotinic acid, which proceeds upon the action of various amines. The reaction with amines containing an alkyl substituent different from that at the quaternized nitrogen atom of the pyrimidinium salt leads to the formation of products of rearrangement and transamination. In the presence of water, the rearrangement is accompanied by the formation of the ethyl ester of 1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-4,6-dimethylnicotinic acid.