An Improved Synthesis of 7-Substituted Pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines.

Base (NaOMe)-catalyzed condensation of 3,3-dimethoxypropionitrile with aldehydes followed by hydrolysis with 6 N HCl gives the unsaturated cyano aldehydes 5. Catalytic reduction of the double bond followed by reaction with diethyl aminomalonate affords the enamines 7, which cyclize to the aminopyrroles 2 on treatment with NaOMe. While the amino group in 2 is unreactive toward many guanylating reagents, acid (AcOH)-catalyzed guanylation occurs easily with 10 to give 12 along with methyl mercaptan as a byproduct.