A convenient regioselective synthesis of (2E)-2-[2,3,6-triarylpyrimidin-4(3H)-ylidene]acetonitriles through ring transformation reactions

We report a greener, economical, highly convenient and regioselective synthesis of (2E)-2-[2,3,6-arylpyrimidin-4(3H)-ylidene)acetonitriles derivatives 3. This is achieved by a strategy involving ring transformation reaction of 4-(methylthio)-2-oxo-6-aryl-2H-pyran-3-carbonitrile 1 with N-arylbenzamidine or N-arylpicolinamidine 2 in the presence of KOH/DMF catalyst at room temperature. This approach provides a one-pot approach for the synthesis of symmetrical, unsymmetrical and heteroaryl pyrimidin-4(3H)-ylidene)acetonitriles derivatives 3.