New series of 6-alkyl-2,4-disubstituted pyrimidine-5-carbonitriles namely, 6-alkyl-2-thiouracil-5-carbonitriles 4c,d, 6-alkyl-2-arylmethylsulfanyl-3,4-dihydro-4-oxopyrimidine-5-carbonitriles 5a-p, 6-alkyl-2-(2-methoxyethylsulfanyl)-3,4-dihydro-4-oxopyrimidine-5-carbonitriles 6a-d, 6-alkyl-2-benzyloxymethylsulfanyl-3,4-dihydro-4-oxopyrimidine-5-carbonitriles 7a-c, 6-alkyl-2-(5-nitrofuran-2-ylmethylsulfanyl)-3,4-dihydro-4-oxopyrimidine-5-carbonitriles 8a-d, 6-alkyl-4-arylthio-2-(benzylsulfanyl)pyrimidine-5-carbonitriles 10a, b and 2-benzylsulfanyl-4-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]-6-pentylpyrimidine-5-carbonitrile 11, were synthesized and tested for in vitro activities against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast-like pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Compounds 4d, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 5j, 5k, 5 l, 5p, 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 11 -displayed marked antibacterial activity particularly against the tested Gram-positive bacteria. Meanwhile, none of these compounds were proved to be active against Candida albicans.

6-Chloro-5-ethyl-, n-propyl- and isopropyluracils 5a-c were efficiently prepared from the corresponding 5-alkybarbituric acids 3a-cvia treatment with phosphorus oxychloride and N,N-dimethylaniline to yield the corresponding 5-alkyl-2,4,6-trichloro-pyrimidines 4a-c, which were selectively hydrolyzed by heating in 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide for 30 minutes. The reaction of compounds 5a-c with 1-substituted piperazines yielded the corresponding 5-alkyl-6-(4-substituted-1-piperazinyl)uracils 6a-j. The target 8-alkyltetrazolo[1,5-f]pyrimidine-5,7(3H,6H)-diones 7a-c were prepared via the reaction of 5a-c with sodium azide. Compounds 6a-j and 7a-c were tested for in vitro activities against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast-like pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Compound 6h displayed potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, while compound 6b showed moderate activity against the Gram-positive bacteria. All the tested compounds were practically inactive against Candida albicans.

The reaction of 6-(2-methylpropyl or 2-phenylpropyl)-2-thiouracil-5-carbonitriles (4a,b) with various arylmethyl halides, 2-bromoethyl methyl ether, benzyl chloromethyl ether, and 2-bromomethyl-5-nitrofuran in N,N-dimethylformamide or acetone yielded the corresponding substituted thio-3,4-dihydro-4-oxopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile analogues 5a–h, 6a,b, 7, and 8a,b, respectively. Treatment of 5c with phosphorus oxychloride and N,N-dimethylaniline yielded the 4-chloropyrimidine derivative 9, which was allowed to react with various arylthiols, arylamines, and 1-substituted piperazines to yield the respective 4-arylthio 10a–d, 4-arylamino 11a–d, and 4-piperazino 12a,b derivatives. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for in vitro activities against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast-like pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Compounds 5e, 5f, 5g,h, 7, 8a,b, and 12a display marked antibacterial activity, particularly against the Gram-positive bacteria. None of these compounds are active against C. albicans.

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5-Alkyl-6-(substituted benzyl)-2-thiouracils 3a,c were reacted with (2-chloroethyl) diethylamine hydrochloride to afford the corresponding 2-(2-diethylamino)ethylthiopyrimidin-4(3H)-ones 4a,b. Reaction of 3a-c with N-(2-chloroethyl)pyrrolidine hydrochloride and/or N-(2-chloroethyl) 3a, 3b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6d, 6f, 7b and 7d, whereas compounds 4b, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b and 6f exhibited the best antifungal activity.