RESEARCH ON ANTIVIRAL AGENTS .5. LITHIATION OF 6-METHYLURACIL AS A NEW AND EFFICIENT ENTRY TO C(6)-SUBSTITUTED URACILS

Synthesis of numerous C(6)-substituted uracils can be effected by lith iation of N(1), N(3)-substituted 6-methyluracils (1) and (4) with LiHM DS, followed by the reaction of the resulting lithio derivatives with carbon, sulfur, and selenium electrophiles. The unexpected migration o f the N(1)-benzoyl group in the metalation-alkylation and the high ste reoselectivity obtained in the reaction with substituted cyclohexanone s are also reported.