Benzamido-derivatives of ethyl 2-amino-4-methylpyrimidine-5-carboxylate

A direct condensation of benzoylguanidines and ethyl α-formylacetoacetate provided a satisfactory route to otherwise inaccessible 2-benzamidopyrimidines. Syntheses of the guanidine (III) containing certain structural features of congocidin and of 2-acetamido-4-methylpyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid (IV; R = H) are also described.