5-Bromo-2-iodopyrimidine: a novel, useful intermediate in selective palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions for efficient convergent syntheses

A simple synthesis of the novel 5-bromo-2-iodopyrimidine is described and examples are provided of the use of the compound in selective palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions with a wide range of arylboronic acids and alkynylzincs to give the efficient syntheses of many substituted pyrimidine compounds.