A mixture of 4′-[(5-bromo-4-ethyl-6-oxo-2-propylpyrimidin-1(6H)-yl)methyl]biphenyl-2-carbonitrile (0.45 g), 4,6-dimethylpyridin-3-ol (0.19 g), 8 M potassium hydroxide solution (0.19 mL) and dimethyl sulfoxide (8 mL) was stirred at 150° C. for 12 hr. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with water and then with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to give the title compound as a colorless amorphous solid (0.4 g, 80%).
