Syntheses of 9-Deazatheophyllines and 6-Deoxy-9-deazatheophyllines

The reaction of 1, 3-dimethyl-5-nitro-6-styryluracils (IIa-e) with sodium dithionite in formic acid afforded the corresponding 8-aryl-9-deazatheophyllines (IVa-e). The reaction of IVa with phosphorus oxychloride gave 6-chloro-6-deoxy-8-phenyl-9-deazatheophylline (XIII), while the reaction of IVa with phosphorus oxychloride in the presence of arylamines provided the corresponding 6-arylamino-6-deoxy-8-phenyl-9-deazatheophyllines (XIV-XVI) in a single step.