Carboxylic acid-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of cyanoacetylureas and their cyclization to 6-aminouracils in guanidine ionic liquid

A novel, one-pot, carboxylic acid-catalyzed synthesis of cyanoacetylureas via in situ generated ureas and their cyclization to 6-aminouracils in the presence of the guanidine-based ionic liquid 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine lactate [TMG][Lac] is described. The ureas were synthesized from amines and potassium cyanate, which on reaction with cyanoacetic acid in the presence of acetic anhydride in the same pot afforded cyanoacetylureas, which undergo cyclization in [TMG][Lac] as solvent as well as catalyst to afford 6-aminouracils. One-pot synthesis of cyanoacetylureas, efficient and rapid cyclization, better yield, shorter reaction time, easy workup procedure, and recyclability of the ionic liquid are some advantages of this procedure. Graphical abstract