Molybdenum-Mediated One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Hydroxypyrimidines from Isoxazoles

Abstract

A one-pot procedure towards substituted 2-hydroxypyrimidines from commercially available isoxazoles is reported. The process involves the cleavage of the isoxazole N-O bond mediated by Mo2(OAc)4, in situ hydrolysis of the resulting β-amino enone to the reactive 1,3-dicarbarbonylated intermediate, followed by hydroxypyrimidine formation in the presence of urea. Moderate to excellent yields are obtained, leading to functionalized hydroxypyrimidines. By using readily available isoxazoles, a wide range of new diverse polysubstituted hydroxypyrimidines may be prepared by this method.