Uracil → 1,3-Dimethyl-5-formyluracil

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a slurry of 400mg of 5-formyluracil (2.8 mM) in DMF (10 mL) at room temperature was added sodium hydride (280 mg, 7 mM, 60% in oil). After stirring for 30 min., MeI (1.013 g, 7.2 mM) was added. When the turbid reaction mixture became a homogeneous yellow solution tlc revealed the absence of starting uracil. The reaction mixture was treated with MeOH and water, concentrated on the rotovap and the residue partitioned between MeOH and hexane. The MeOH fraction was concentrated and the residue partitioned between chloroform and water. The organic phase dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated to give 420 mg (89% yield) of 1,3-dimethyl-5-formyluracil as an off-white waxy solid. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6), δ=9.82 (s, 1H), 8.52 (s, 1H), 3.43 (s, 3H), 3.2 (s, 3H). LC/MS; rt=0.34 mins. m/z=169, [M+H]+.

Provenance & Evidence