The Birch reduction of chloro-pyrimidine, -pyridazine and -s-triazine derivatives bearing a prototropic substituent gives the corresponding dehalogenated compounds in good yields. Methylthio-and ethylthio-substituents undergo a reductive cleavage: 4-amino-6-methylthiopyrimidine (11) and 2,4-bis-diethylamino-6-ethylthio-s-triazine (111) are converted to the corresponding mercapto compounds. Moreover, the sodium-ammonia reagent is able to remove a chlorine atom from a molecule containing a mercapto or alkylthio substituent; the efficiency of this reaction is shown by the one step reduction of 4-amino-6-chloro-2-methylthiopyrimidine (VI) and 3-chloro-6-mercaptopyridazine (VII) to the corresponding dehalogenated mercaptans in 66 and 58 % yield, respectively.The removal of halogen atoms from n-deficient nitrogen heterocycles and the cleavage of alkyl groups from heteroaryl-alkyl sulphides are important synthetic steps in heteroaromatic synthesis. We wish to report on the use of sodium in liquid ammonia to carry out such reductive cleavages; one important point was also to determine whether the Birch reaction coud effect the dehalogenation of heterocycles bearing both a chlorine atom and a mercapto or alkylthio substituent.
DEHALOGENATIONThe dehalogenation of heteroaryl halides carried out by catalytic hydrogenolysis is classical [l]; the yields are fair to good.Kyrides [2] has used the Birch reduction to dehalogenate 4-halogeno-and 4,6-dihalogenopyrimidines (CI, Br, I) bearing an amino, alkylamino or dialkylamino substituent at position 2.When we applied this reaction, we found variable results, depending on the groups linked to the heterocycle. Two procedures were used. In method A, the sodiumliquid ammonia reagent is added dropwise to the substrate dissolved in ammonia or ether-ammonia; in method B, the substrate and an excess of sodium metal are mixed rapidly. The results are summarised in table I.* The correct expressions protodehalogenation and protodealkylotion will be hereafter abbreviated to dehalogenation and dealkylafion.