IODO- AND CHLORODEMERCURATION OF 5,5'-MERCURIBISURACILS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00506675

The direct C mercuration in the 5 position of 1-acetyluracil by means of mercury(II) trifluoroacetate in anhydrous acetonitrile is described.The intermediately formed 1-acetyl-5-trifluoroacetoxymercuriuracil, without isolation, was subjected to symmetrization by the action of potassium iodide.The acetyl groups were then readily split out by the action of water.The resulting 5,5'-mercuribisuracil (50percent yield) forms 5-iodo- or 5-chlorouracil in 93percent or 72percent yields, respectively, under the influence of an aqueous KI3 solution or excess pure liquid S2Cl2.