Cyclization of Ketones with Nitriles under Base: A General and Economical Synthesis of Pyrimidines

A facile, general, and economical synthesis of diversely functionalized pyrimidines has been realized under basic conditions via the copper-catalyzed cyclization of ketones with nitriles. The reaction proceeds via a novel pathway involving the nitriles acting as electrophiles and consecutive C–C bond and two C–N bond formations and shows broad substrate scope and good tolerance of many important functional groups. This strategy represents a new platform for constructing pyrimidine structures.