Dimethyl Sulfoxide → 2-Pyrimidineacetic acid ethyl ester

4.76 g of diethyl (2-pyrimidinyl)malonate and 20 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide were mixed. To the mixture was added 1.40 g of sodium chloride and 0.72 g of water. The mixture was stirred for about 20 minutes at an inner temperature of 140 to 145° C., and for about 20 minutes at an inner temperature of 145 to 148° C. The mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, then, to the reaction mixture was added water, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated brine twice, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, then, concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 2.12 g of ethyl (2-pyrimidinyl)acetate.