A solution of 1,4-dihydro-2-methoxy-6-methyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid, 1-methylethyl ester (5.00 g, 15.0 mmol; see Example 2A) and dry triethylamine (6.27 ml, 45 mmol) in dichloromethane (45 ml) in an ice bath under argon was treated with a 1.2M solution of phosgene in benzene (15.0 ml, 18.0 mmol) via syringe. After stirring 4.0 hours at 0° C., the reaction was treated with benzyl amine (2.46 ml, 22.5 mmol) and stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction was treated with water and saturated sodium chloride. The organic phase was evaporated and flash chromatographed (3% ethyl acetate in dichloromethane) to give the title compound as a yellow foam (6.20 g) TLC (5% ethyl acetate/dichlorolmethane) major spot, Rf =0.70.
