Efficient synthesis of pyrimidine carbonitriles and their derivatives

New approach to pyrimidinecarbonitriles was developed. Pyrimidine-4- and 6-carbonitriles were prepared by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of iodopyrimidines with Zn(CN)2 in very good yields. The cyano group was converted into the corresponding acyl groups by the treatment with Grignard reagents and transformed to amido and imido function as well.