Synthesis of 5-Fluorocytosine Using 2-Cyano-2-fluoroethenolate as a Key Intermediate

There is an urgent demand for 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) due to its activity against HIV-induced fungal infections as well as its use as a key intermediate in the synthesis of the clinically highly important anti-HIV drug emtricitabine (FTC). We report a simple, low-cost five steps synthesis of 5-FC starting from chloroacetamide. Overall yields up to 46 % were achieved and the route is devoid of any chromatographic purifications. The previously unknown key intermediate (Z)-2-cyano-2-fluoroethenolate is obtained through a Claisen-type condensation from fluoroacetonitrile. As the direct cyclization with urea only gave poor yields, 5-fluoro-2-methoxypyrimidin-4-amine, 5-fluoro-2-(methylsulfanyl)pyrimidin-4-amine and 5-fluoropyrimidine-2,4-diamine served as synthetic intermediates.