Abstract

A convenient, accessible, and high yield method for preparing of 6-methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one (1) by treatment of acetoacetic acid ethyl ester with thiourea in sodium methylate was developed. The alkylation of the latter with 3-chloro-pentane-2,4-dione and further regioselective cyclization of intermediate compound (2) in high yield afforded 2-acetyl-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (3). The halogenation and some transformations of synthesized thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine (3) due to its ketone group were carried out to obtain the corresponding carboxamide, carbothioamide, sulfonohydrazide, and oxime and its alkylated derivatives (5). At preliminary biological studies the synthesized compounds have shown growth stimulant properties. The activity of four of them was higher than 70%, compared with heteroauxin.

1. Introduction

Thiazole and pyrimidine are classes of heterocycles that are of considerable interest because of the wide range of their biological properties. Among them there are many pharmaceutically important molecules and chemical means of plants protection. Thiazolopyrimidines, which consist of these two active pharmacophore heterocycles, can also be of interest as potential bioactive molecules and have acquired a growing importance in the field of medicinal chemistry. Due to the great potential of both of the moiety, different scientists synthesized a large number of thiazolopyrimidines derivatives in particular thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines with different substituents to evaluate their various pharmacological activities. The survey of literature reveals that these fused biheterocyclic compounds show pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory [13], bactericidal [49], analgesic and antiparkinsonian [10], antifungal [6, 7, 9, 1114], antioxidant [6, 9, 15], anticancer [1620], antimicrobial [9, 2126], hypoglycemic [27], psychopharmacological [28], antituberculosis [29], antidepressant [30], and antiviral [31, 32]. Some derivatives are offered as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors [3], antipsychotic agents [33], calcium antagonists [34], phosphate inhibitors [35, 36], and 5-HT2A receptor antagonists [37].

However, to our surprise, there are virtually no data in the literature about pesticidal and plant growth regulatory properties of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines. Only a few studies of pesticidal [38, 39], herbicidal [40], and growth regulatory activities [41] of these systems derivatives may be noted.

Prompted by the potential importance of this condensed biheterocyclic system the present investigation was undertaken to synthesize a series of novel thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines derivatives to obtain the new chemical means of plants protection and growth regulators [42].

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Chemistry

As precursors for the synthesis of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines the substituted pyrimidines and aminothiazoles are used. In most of the papers the synthesis of initial pyrimidine-2-thione derivatives is carried out via Biginelli multicomponent condensation reaction of substituted aldehydes with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and thiourea [3, 6, 8, 9, 13, 20, 23]. In some cases, pyrimidines were obtained in two steps [20]. In these syntheses the yield of pyrimidine derivatives was 50–85%. Their further condensation with substituted acyl chlorides, halocarboxylic acids esters, or dicarbonyl compounds affords thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine biheterocyclic systems. In order to accelerate the synthesis of targeted thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines and increase their yield, some authors used MW irradiation [9, 14, 43] or catalysts [44, 45].

The cyclization of pyrimidine derivatives may yield several isomers, due to substitution position in pyrimidine cycle in the intermediate product. To achieve regioselectivity, the cyclization reaction was carried out with bromomalononitrile [9] or via S-propargyl derivatives [44, 45].

To obtain thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines some authors use 2-aminothiazoles as precursors. In these cases targeted compounds were obtained by cyclization of 2-aminothiazole derivatives with bis(methylthio)methylene malononitrile [15], benzylidene malononitrile [9], 2-acetylbutyrolactone [37], and formamide and formic acid [41]. In [14, 43] 2-aminothiazole was used in Biginelli reaction instead of thiourea. A series of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinones were synthesized in a two-step procedure, using Eaton’s reagent to effect the cyclization of 2-aminothiazoles [46].

In order to develop a convenient, accessible, and high yield method for preparing of 6-methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one, in present investigation acetoacetic acid ethyl ester was treated with thiourea in sodium methylate (Scheme 1). Obtained compound can exist in different tautomeric forms (1A1C). In 13C NMR spectra the signal of double C=S bond at 175.83 ppm and in 1H NMR spectra one broaden average absorption at 11.98 ppm are observed. These data indicate that 6-methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one has structure (1B).

To obtain targeted thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine, compound 1 interacted with 3-chloro-pentane-2,4-dione (Scheme 2). At this process the substitution may occur at sulfur or one of cyclic nitrogen atoms, due to position of hydrogen atoms in pyrimidine moieties. In 13C NMR spectrum of compound 2 the signal of C=S carbon atom has disappeared and in 1H NMR spectrum besides the signal of enol hydrogen atom (17.30 ppm, integral intensity equal to 0.9) also the second absorption for cyclic OH or NH group is observed (12.20 ppm). These data indicated that the substitution occurred at sulfur atom and depending on tautomerism of heterocyclic ring and pentadione moiety the obtained compound may be described by one of the structures (2A, 2B) or (2C). The heating of the latter in toluene at 125–130°C in the presence of toluene-4-sulfonic acid afforded compound (3). The intramolecular dehydration and cyclization can occur from tautomers (2B) or (2C) and as a result 2-acetyl-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (3B) or 2-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-7-one (3C) can be obtained.

Since the further transformations have been carried out on the basis of this compound (3), its structure was strictly proved by X-ray diffraction analysis, whose data unambiguously agree with the structure (3B) (Figure 1).

To introduce some pharmacophore groups into molecule structure, some transformations due to the ketone group were carried out. By interaction of ketone (3) with semicarbazide, thiosemicarbazide, and 4-methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide the corresponding 2-(1-(3,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazine-1-carboxamide (4a), 2-(1-(3,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (4b), and N′-(1-(3,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl)ethylidene)-4-methylbenzene-sulfonohydrazide (4c) were obtained (Scheme 3).

In accordance with literature data some heterocyclic substituted oximes and their ethers show fungicidal [4749], herbicidal [50, 51], insecticidal [52], and growth stimulant [49] activities. Therefore, by reaction of ketone (3) with hydroxylamine hydrochloride, the corresponding 2-(1-(hydroxyimino)ethyl)-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (4d) was synthesized. The latter with alkyl halides formed 3,7-dimethyl-2-(1-(propoxyimino)ethyl)-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (5a) and 3,7-dimethyl-2-(1-((2-phenoxyethoxy)imino)ethyl)-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (5b).

We also carried out an electrophilic substitution in the pyrimidine ring to synthesize the halogenated derivatives (6a and 6b) of ketone (3) (Scheme 3).

To synthesize the condensed system with a saturated thiazole cycle the reaction of starting 6-methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one with 1,2-dichloroethane was carried out. As a result 2-((2-chloroethyl)thio)-6-methylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one or 2-((2-chloroethyl) thio)-6-methylpyrimidin-4(1H)-one could be formed (Scheme 4).

In 13C NMR spectrum of the synthesized compound the signal of carbon atom of C=O bond is retained, and C=S bond has disappeared. In 1H NMR spectrum the values of chemical shift of methylene groups’ signals are conformed to S-substitution. At the same time, in accordance with elemental analysis and mass spectrum data (M + 1 = 169), there are no chlorine atoms in the molecule of resulting product. Therefore, even at room temperature, the intermediate S-substituted derivative is subjected to heterocyclization, and 7-methyl-2,3-dihydro-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (7) or 5-methyl-2,3-dihydro-7H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-7-one may be formed. The data of 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the reaction product are similar to those of compound (3), which conform to structure (7).

2.2. Biological Evaluation

At preliminary screening the herbicidal, fungicidal, and growth regulatory activities of novel synthesized compounds were studied. All preparations did not possess noticeable herbicidal or antifungal properties, but they showed the pronounced growth stimulant activity.

For the growth regulatory properties evaluation the action of aqueous emulsions (25 mg/L and 50 mg/L) of synthesized compounds on the germination, growth, and survivability of seeds and seedlings of dicotyledonous bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied and compared with that of heteroauxin (IAA).

Two series of bean seeds were incubated for 24 hours in an appropriate medium in the dark at 25°C. Then the seeds were transplanted into soil and watered daily. The experimental data calculations were produced in 20–25 days. The number of the plants roots of each series, their length and weight in the moist and dry forms, and their average values were calculated. The results were compared with similar data of plants placed in IAA solutions, and the activities of preparations in comparison with IAA (in %) were determined (Table 1).

Practically all targeted substances (36) have shown growth stimulant properties. The most active compounds (more than 70% compared to heteroauxin) were (3), (4b), (4d), and (6b).

3. Experimental

The 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were recorded on Varian Mercury-300 MHz (Varian, USA) spectrometer, in the mixture of solvents DMSO- + CCl4 (1 : 3), using tetramethylsilane as internal standard and IR spectra on Avatar 330FT-IR (Thermo Nicolet, USA) spectrometer, using attenuated total reflectance (ATP) method. Mass spectra were recorded on LC-MS system (Agilent, USA). The X-ray analysis was done at room temperature on automated Enraf-Nonius CAD-4 diffractometer. The reaction progress and purity of the obtained substances were checked by using TLC method on UV-254 plates (“Silufol,” Czech Republic) with acetone/hexane mixture (2 : 1) as eluent. All melting points were determined in open capillaries and are uncorrected.

3.1. Synthesis of 6-Methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one (1)

To methanol (10 mL) was added sodium (30 mmol) and then thiourea (10 mmol) and acetoacetic acid ethyl ester (10 mmol). The mixture was boiled for 7 h, methanol was evaporated, and the precipitate was dissolved in water, neutralized with acetic acid, and filtered off.

Yield (1.26 g, 90%); light yellow crystals; m.p. 275–277°С. 1HNMR: δ = 2.09 (, 3H, 6-CH3); 5.52 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.); 11.98 [b.s, 2H, (NH)2]. 13C NMR: ; 103.38 151.91; 160.32; 175.83. Anal. Calcd for C5H6N2OS: C, 42.24; H, 4.25; N, 19.70; S, 22.55; found: C, 42.24; H, 4.25; N, 19.70; S, 22.55.

3.2. Synthesis of 3-((4-Hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidin-2-yl)thio)pentane-2,4-dione (2)

The mixture of 6-methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one (1) (10 mmol) and KOH (10 mmol) in dimethylformamide (DMFA) (15 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 3 h; then at cooling 3-chloro-pentane-2,4-dione (10 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was allowed to stand for 24 h at 25°C; then DMFA was evaporated at low pressure and the residue was processed with water and filtered off.

Yield (1.68 g, 70%); white crystal; m.p. 188–190°С. 1HNMR: (, 3H, 6-CH3); 2.22 [, 6H, (CH3)2]; 5.92 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.); 12.20 (b.s., 1H, OH-pyrim.); 17.30 (, 0.9H, OH-enol). Anal. Calcd for C10H12N2О3S: C, 49.99; H, 5.03; N, 11.66; S, 13.34; found: C, 49.81; H, 4.91; N, 11.22; S, 13.00.

3.3. Synthesis of 2-Acetyl-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (3)

A solution of compound 2 (10 mmol) and catalytic amounts of toluene-4-sulfonic acid in toluene (10 mL) was heated at 125–130°C for 4 h. After toluene evaporation water (20 mL) was added and compound 3 was filtered off from the mixture.

Yield (1.65 g, 75%); light yellow crystals; m.p. 126–128°С. IR (KBr): and 1705 (C=O). 1HNMR: δ = 2.25 (, 3H, 7-CH3); 2.57 (, 3H, COCH3); 3.08 (, 3H, 3-CH3); 5.96 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.). 13C NMR: ; 22.85; 30.30; 105.22; 120.99; 141.69; 160.16; 160.94; 162.60; 189.40. Anal. Calcd for C10H10N2О2S: C, 54.04; H, 4.54; N, 12.60; S, 14.42; found: C, 53.90; H, 4.39; N, 12.29; S, 14.08.

X-Ray Diffraction Analysis. Crystal data: C10H10N2O2S, monoclinic, space group , = 14.106(3) Å, = 4.0190(8) Å, = 18.062(4) Å, β = 103.32(3)°, = 996.4(4) Å3, , = 293(2) K,  g cm−3, μ(MoKα) = 0.304 mm−1, 3010 data were collected up to = 30° (, ). Final -indices for 1591 reflections with and 139 refined parameters are , (, for all 2902 data). Crystallographic data for compound (3) have been deposited with the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, deposition number CCDC 991572.

3.4. Synthesis of 2-(1-(3,7-Dimethyl-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazine-1-carboxamide (4a)

The mixture of compound 3 (10 mmol) and semicarbazide hydrochloride (10 mmol) in water (10 mL) was heated at 100°C for 4 h.

Yield (2.6 g, 89%); yellow crystals; m.p. 310–312°C. 1HNMR: (, 3H, 7-CH3); 2.41 (, 3H, C=NCH3); 2.85 (, 3H, 3-CH3); 5.92 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.); 7.25 and 8.20 (b.s, 2H, NH2); 10.64 (, 1H, NH). Anal. Calcd for C11H13N5О2S: C, 47.30; H, 4.69; N, 25.07; S, 11.48; found: C, 47.20; H, 4.55; N, 24.79; S, 11.08.

General Synthesis of Compounds (4b,c). To a suspension of thiosemicarbazide or toluene-4-sulfohydrazide (10 mmol) in water (10 mL), 36% HCl (12 mmol) and compound 3 (10 mmol) were added. The mixture was heated at 100°C for 4 h, cooled, and filtered off. The precipitate was purified by boiling in ethanol (50%).

3.4.1. 2-(1-(3,7-Dimethyl-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (4b)

Yield (2.45 g, 84%); yellow crystals; m.p. 248–250°C. 1HNMR: δ = 2.24 (, 3H, 7-CH3); 2.39 (, 3H, C=NCH3); 2.88 (, 3H, 3-CH3); 5.90 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.); 7.19 and 8.27 (b.s, 2H, NH2); 10.55 (, 1H, NH). 13C NMR: δ = 16.48; 17.43; 22.85; 105.06; 121.77; 133.73; 140.41; 159.96; 161.66; 161.86; 178.99. Anal. Calcd for C11H13N5ОS2: C, 44.73; H, 4.44; N, 23.71; S, 21.71; found: C, 44.55; H, 4.29; N, 23.40; S, 21.39.

3.4.2. N′-(1-(3,7-Dimethyl-5-oxo-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-2-yl)ethylidene)-4-methylbenzenesulfonohydrazide (4c)

Yield (3.25 g, 90%); white crystals; m.p. 208–210°C. 1HNMR: and 2.22 (, 3H, 3H, CH3-C6H5 and 7-CH3); 2.44 (, 3H, C=NCH3); 2.75 (, 3H, 3-CH3); 5.86 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.); 7.32–7.80 (, 4H, C6H4); 10.74 (, 1H, NH). 13C NMR: δ = 16.14; 17.17; 20.94; 22.79; 104.92; 121.34; 127.52; 128.82; 133.48; 135.88; 142.64; 145.08; 159.95; 161.42; 161.79. Anal. Calcd for C17H18N4О3S2: C, 52.29; H, 4.65; N, 14.35; S, 16.42; found: C, 52.11; H, 4.53; N, 14.02; S, 16.11.

3.5. Synthesis of 2-(1-(Hydroxyimino)ethyl)-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (4d)

To a solution of hydroxyl amine (11 mmol) in water (10 mL), at cooling a solution of NaOH (11 mmol) in water (5 mL) was added dropwise and then compound 3 (10 mmol) and ethanol (10 mL). The mixture was allowed to stand for 24 h and then heated at 50–60°C for 2 h, cooled, processed with water, and filtered off.

Yield (1.65 g, 71%); white crystals; m.p. 214–216°C. 1HNMR: δ = 2.23 (, 6H, C=NCH3 and 7-CH3); 2.86 (, 3H, 3-CH3); 5.89 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.); 11.66 (, 1H, OH). 13C NMR: ; 16.17; 22.77; 104.93; 119.48; 132.27; 146.48; 159.93; 161.59; 161.67. Anal. Calcd for C10H11N3О2S: C, 50.62; H, 4.67; N, 17.71; S, 13.51; found: C, 50.49; H, 4.51; N, 17.39; S, 13.18.

3.6. General Synthesis of Compounds (5a,b)

In DMFA (20 mL) consecutively KOH (10 mmol) and compound 4d (10 mmol) were diluted. The solution was stirred at 20°C for 3 h till salt formation. After cooling propyl bromide or (2-bromoethoxy)benzene (11 mmol) was added. The mixture was allowed to stand for 24 h and then heated at 70–80°C for 2 h. DMFA was evaporated at low pressure; the residue was processed with water and filtered off. Compounds (5a,b) were purified by recrystallization from hexane.

3.6.1. 3,7-Dimethyl-2-(1-(propoxyimino)ethyl)-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (5a)

Yield (2.36 g, 85%); white crystals; m.p. 70–72°C. 1HNMR: (, , 3H, CH3-Pr); 1.72 (, 2H, CH2), 2.24 (, 6H, C=NCH3 and 7-CH3); 2.83 (, 3H, 3-CH3); 4.11 (, , OCH2); 5.90 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.). 13C NMR: ; 14.86; 16.18; 21.77; 22.76; 75.50; 104.97; 118.02; 133.26; 147.11; 159.82; 161.53; 161.77. Anal. Calcd for C13H17N3О2S: C, 55.89; H, 6.13; N, 15.04; S, 11.48; found: C, 55.90; H, 6.01; N, 14.69; S, 11.11.

3.6.2. 3,7-Dimethyl-2-(1-((2-phenoxyethoxy)imino)ethyl)-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (5b)

Yield (2.4 g, 67%); white crystals; m.p. 125–127°C. IR (KBr): (C=O). 1HNMR: and 2.26 (, 3H, 3H, C=NCH3 and 7-CH3); 2.83 (, 3H, 3-CH3); 4.23 and 4.49 (, 4H, OCH2CH2O); 5.91 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.); 6.82–7.28 (, 5H, C6H5). 13C NMR: ; 16.23; 22.76; 65.43; 72.54; 105.03; 114.02; 120.18; 128.76; 133.50; 148.06; 158.01; 159.82; 1161.55; 161.83. Anal. Calcd for C18H19N3О3S: C, 60.49; H, 5.36; N, 11.76; S, 8.97; found: C, 60.52; H, 5.22; N, 11.49; S, 8.56.

3.7. General Synthesis of Compounds (6a,b)

The mixture of compound 4d (10 mmol), chlorosuccinimide, or bromosuccinimide (12 mmol) in acetic acid (20 mL) was heated at 100–110°C for 3 h. After acid evaporation the residue was processed with water, neutralized with NaHCO3 till pH 8 and filtered off. Compounds 6a,b were purified by recrystallization from hexane-benzene mixture (1 : 1).

3.7.1. 2-Acetyl-6-chloro-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (6a)

Yield (2.0 g, 80%); light brown crystals; m.p. 140–142°C. 1HNMR: δ = 2.43 (, 3H, 7-CH3); 2.58 (, 3H, COCH3); 3.10 (, 3H, 3-CH3). Anal. Calcd for C10H9ClN2О2S: C, 46.79; H, 3.53; N, 10.91; S, 12.49; found: C, 46.58; H, 3.41; N, 10.57; S, 12.06.

3.7.2. 2-Acetyl-6-bromo-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (6b)

Yield (2.52 g, 84%); light brown crystals; m.p. 90–92°C. 1HNMR: δ = 2.48 (, 3H, 7-CH3); 2.57 (, 3H, COCH3); 3.09 (, 3H, 3-CH3). Anal. Calcd for C10H9BrN2О2S: C, 39.88; H, 3.01; N, 9.30; S, 10.65; found: C, 39.69; H, 2.89; N, 8.91; S, 10.21.

3.8. Synthesis of 7-Methyl-2,3-dihydro-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one (7)

A suspension of compound 3 (10 mmol) and KOH (20 mmol) in DMFA (10 mL) was stirred for 3 h till salt formation; then at cooling (0°C) 1,2-dichloroethane (10 mmol) was added dropwise and allowed to stand for 24 h at room temperature. The mixture was filtered off, DMFA was evaporated at low pressure, and the residue was processed with CHCl3 and then with ether.

Yield (1.2 g, 70%); white crystals; m.p. 118–120°C. IR (KBr): (C=O). 1HNMR: (, 3H, 7-CH3); 3.49 (, , 2H, SCH2); 4.34 (, , 2H, NCH2); 5.83 (, 1H, CH-pyrim.). 13C NMR: ; 25.49; 48.02; 106.68; 159.46; 163.22; 163.73. MS: 169 (M + 1). Anal. Calcd for C7H8N2OS: C, 49.98; H, 4.79; N, 16.65; S, 19.06; found: C, 49.81; H, 4.65; N, 16.33; S, 18.80.

4. Conclusions

6-Methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one (1) can be obtained with high yield (90%) on treatment of acetoacetic acid ethyl ester with thiourea in sodium methylate. When the latter reacts with 3-chloro-pentane-2,4-dione, the substitution occurs at sulfur atom (2) and the further regioselective cyclization with good yields afforded 2-acetyl-3,7-dimethyl-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one. This three-step synthesis is convenient and efficient and can be used for the syntheses of different biologically active thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives.

The preliminary biological assay indicates that investigated biheterocyclic system derivatives show growth stimulant activity and can be of interest to obtain new growth regulators.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interests.