A Domino Desulfitative Coupling/Acylation/Hydration Process Cocatalyzed by Copper(I) and Palladium(II): Synthesis of Highly Substituted and Functionalized Pyrimidines

A domino desulfitative coupling/acylation/hydration process to synthesize C-2-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)- and N-3-carbonyl-substituted pyrimidines by unprecedented CC and CN cross-coupling reactions is described. This methodology couples 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiones and alkynes under modified Liebeskind–Srogl conditions using palladium acetate and copper(I) carboxylate. Remarkably the copper(I) carboxylates simultaneously act as desulfitative and acylation reagents in the reaction.