Silver catalysed decarboxylative alkylation and acylation of pyrimidines in aqueous media

Decarboxylative alkylation or acylation reactions of simple pyrimidines have been developed in aqueous media. Using aliphatic carboxylic acids or 2-oxocarboxylic acids and pyrimidines as substrates and silver as the catalyst, the 4-substituted alkyl or acyl pyrimidines were isolated in moderate to good yields.