A Green Chemical Approach for Iodination of Pyrimidine Derivatives by Mechanical Grinding under Solvent-Free Conditions

The iodination of pyrimidines is usually carried out by using toxic reagents under acidic conditions, such as with sulfuric acid and nitric acid. To avoid toxic reagents, we developed a simple and eco-friendly approach for the iodination of pyrimidine derivatives under solvent-free conditions using solid iodine and AgNO(3) as an electrophilic iodinating reagent. The advantages of this method are the relatively short reaction time (20–30 min), simple set-up procedure, high yields (70–98%), and environmentally friendly reaction conditions. Our novel approach for the iodination of pyrimidines, as well as a variety of their derivatives, will contribute to the development of nucleobase-related drug candidates.