Methylene compounds hydroxymethylene

Interposition of a methylene group between the phenyl ring and the heterocycle leads to the benzyldiami nopyrimidines, a class of compounds notable for their antibacterial activity. Condensation of hydrocinnamate 54 with ethyl formate leads to the hydroxymethylene derivative 55. In this case, too, the heterocyclic ring is formed by reaction with guanidine. This sequence probably involves initial addition-elimination to the forniyl carbon to form 56 cyclization in this case involves simple amide formation. Tautomerization then affords the hydroxy derivative 57. This is converted to tetroxoprim (58) by first... 

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