Synthesis of Mono- and Bis(fluoroalkyl)pyrimidines from FARs, Fluorinated Acetoacetates, and Malononitrile Provides Easy Access to Novel High-Value Pyrimidine Scaffolds

Abstract

A new strategy was developed using fluorinated acetoacetates, malononitrile, and fluoroalkyl amino reagents (FARs) to access unprecedented 4,6-bis(fluoroalkyl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylates, their carboxylic acid analogues, and 4-amino-6-(fluoroalkyl)pyrimidine-5-carbonitriles. An efficient cyclization step using suitable amidines was developed under microwave irradiation, providing the desired pyrimidines rapidly and efficiently. Standard saponification conditions were applied from carboxylate derivatives to access to the corresponding carboxylic acids. These new valuable building blocks, bearing either a single or two emergent fluorinated substituents, hold strong potential for medicinal and agrochemical research.

Keywords: cyclization; fluorine; heterocycles; pyrimidine; synthetic methods.