Synfacts 2009(4): 0380-0380  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1087883
Synthesis of Heterocycles
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of Pyrimidoquinolines via the Pictet-Spengler Reaction

Contributor(s): Victor Snieckus, Toni Rantanen
P. K. Agarwal, S. K. Sharma, D. Sawant, B. Kundu*
Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 March 2009 (online)

Significance

Reported is the first use of a pyri­midine ring as the π-nucleophilic component in the Pictet-Spengler reaction. The starting materials, 2-amino-4-substituted pyrimidines, or 2-amino-4,6-disubstituted pyrimidines were prepared via a 2-4-step sequence starting from 3-dimethyl-amino-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-propenone. The Pictet-Spengler reaction proceeds in moderate to good yields, tolerating EWGs and EDGs on the aldehyde reactant. 4,6-Disubstituted pyrimidines afforded slightly lower yields than 4-monosubstituted analogues, failing in two cases of 2-substituted aryl aldehydes which may be due to a steric R²,R³ effect. Attempted reaction with a pyridine subunit instead of a pyrimidine failed.