Decyanative Cross‐Coupling of Cyanopyrimidines with O‐, S‐, and N‐Nucleophiles: A Route to Alkoxylpyrimidines, Aminopyrimidines and Alkylthiopyrimidines

The transition metal‐free cross‐coupling reactions of cyanopyrimidines with aliphatic alcohols, thiols (or S‐alkylisothiourea salts) and amines, giving the corresponding alkoxylpyrimidines, aminopyrimidines, and alkylthiopyrimidines, are reported. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that it probably involves a sequential nucleophilic addition‐intramolecular rearrangement process, which is promoted by an intramolecular N–H···N five‐membered hydrogen bonding interaction. The presence of a nitrogen atom next to the cyano group is indispensable. The wide substrate scope with excellent yields makes cyanopyrimidines a promising alternative substrate class to the frequently used pyrimidines halides for the formation of C–O, C–S, and C–N bonds through the decyanative cross‐coupling reaction. A cross‐coupling reaction of cyanopyrimidines with aliphatic alcohols, thiols (or S‐alkylisothiourea salts) or amines gives the corresponding alkoxylpyrimidines, aminopyrimidines or alkylthiopyrimidines. The wide substrate scope with excellent yields makes cyanopyrimidines a promising alternative substrate class to the frequently used pyrimidines halides for the formation of C–O, C–S, and C–N bonds.