Phosphorus oxychloride → Ethyl 4-chloro-6-methyl-2-(methylsulfanyl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of ethyl 4-methyl-2-(methylthio)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate (60 g, 0.26 mole) and phosphorous oxychloride (POCl3, 320 mL) was heated under reflux for 4 to 5 h (monitor reaction by TLC using 30% ethylacetate and hexanes). After completion of reaction, phosphorous oxychloride was removed on a rotary evaporator. The residue was poured on to ice water and extracted with ethylacetate several times. The combined organic layers were evaporated, on a rotary evaporator, to give crude ethyl 4-chloro-6-methyl-2-(methylthio)pyrimidine-5-carboxylate (65 g). This compound was used without purification.

Provenance & Evidence