A highly efficient procedure was devised for the synthesis of 3-(3-arylthioureido)propanoic/butanoic
acid and its cyclization to (3-aryl/3-aryl-6-methyl)-2-thioxotetrahydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one derivatives. Carbonyl diimidazole proved to be a very effective coupling reagent
for the cyclization. Studies carried out to examine the ambident nature of the thioamide
moiety towards substitution reactions demonstrated the preference for alkylation at
sulfur, and acylation and 1,4-addition at nitrogen.
Key words
uracils - amino esters - carbonyl diimidazole - thioamide - ambident nucleophile