Incorporation of 5-substituted uracil derivatives into nucleic acids. Part IV. The synthesis of 5-ethynyluracil.

5-Acetyluracil (I) has been treated with POCI3 to give 5-(1-chlorovinyl)-2,4-dichloropyrimidine (II). Treatment of II with KOEt gave a mixture of 2-ethoxy-5-ethynyl-4 (3H)-pyrimidinone (IIIA) and 4-ethoxy-5-ethynyl-2 (1H)-pyrimidinone (IIIB). IIIA and IIIB were isolated and characterised. The mixture of IIIA and IIIB upon treatment with HCI gave 5(1-chlorovinyl)uracil (IV). Reaction of IV with KOEt gave 5-ethynyluracil (V). 5-Ethynyluracil was more easily obtained by the treatment of II with KOH in aqueous dioxan.