Efficient and Selective Construction of Pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine Derivatives

Abstract

An efficient and selective method for the synthesis of ethyl 2-amino/aryloxy-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate derivatives has been developed. The main process involved the reaction of diethyl 1-phenyl-3-((triphenylphosphoranylidene)amino)-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylate and aromatic isocyanates, followed by addition of amines/phenols in the presence of catalytic amount of sodium ethoxide or solid potassium carbonate.

Introduction

N-heterocycles are widely used as drugs or pesticides because of their good biological activities, and especially the derivatives of fused pyrimidinone have attracted much interest in drug development research. Among them, the pyrrolo[3,2- d]pyrimidines, also called 9-deazapurines, are now known to have a wide range of biological properties such as potent purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitors,1-4 potent A1- and A2- adenosine receptor antagonists,5 and some derivatives have also been reported to have anticancer activity.6,7 Furthermore, in recent years, the chemistry of pyrrolo[3,4- d]pyrimidines have also received much attention because their derivatives possess a broad range of biological activities and have been used as potent cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator inhibitors,8 A3 adenosine receptor antagonists9 and β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 inhibitors.10 Recently, Kung et al. reported that some derivatives of pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine may be used as inhibitors of heat shock protein 90, which could inhibit multiple pathways in human cancers.11-13

On the other hand, the aza-Wittig-mediated annulation strategy has received increased attention in view of their utility in the synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds.14-22 We have been interested in the synthesis of fused heterocycles via aza-Wittig reaction for some time,23-29 with the aim of searching for new lead compounds. In the early studies, we reported the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]-pyrimidines from 3-amino-2-carboxylpyrroles,30 and the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines from 4-amino-3-carboxylpyrroles.31 Problems may happen if there is a carboxyl group at either side of the amino substituent and the selective ring formation should be carried out. Therefore, it is interesting herein to report the construction of ethyl 2-amino/aryloxy-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo-[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate derivatives from 3-amino-2,4-dicarboxylpyrroles in a selective way.

 

Experimental

General Procedures. Melting points were determined using a X-4 model apparatus and were uncorrected. MS were measured on a Finnigan Trace MS spectrometer. NMR spectra were recorded in CDCl3 on a Varian Mercury 400 or 600 spectrometer and chemical shifts (δ) were given in ppm using (CH3)4Si as an internal reference (δ = 0). IR were recorded on a PE-983 infrared spectrometer as KBr pellets with absorption in cm˗1. Elementary analyses were taken on a Vario EL III elementary analysis instrument.

Procedure for the Preparation of Compound 2. Compound 2 was obtained from the reaction of ethyl cyanocaetate with aniline and ethyl orthoformate in the presence of K2CO3, followed by reaction with ethyl 2-bromoacetate according to a literature report.32 White crystals (yield: 82%); mp: 69-70 ℃ (Lit. mp: 66-68 ℃).

Preparation of Diethyl 1-Phenyl-3-((triphenylphosphoranylidene)amino)-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylate (3). To a mixture of diethyl 3-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylate (2) (3.02 g, 10 mmol), triphenylphosphine (3.93 g, 15 mmol) and hexachloroethane (2.55 g, 15 mmol) in dry acetonitrile (50 mL), was added dropwise triethylamine (2.52 g, 25 mmol) at room temperature. After the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was recrystallized from a mixture of ethanol and petroleum ether to give iminophosphorane 3 as white crystals, 5.17 g (yield: 92%), mp 126 ℃; MS (m/z, %): 562 (M+, 100), 489 (31), 461 (11), 443 (18), 262 (12), 201 (20), 183 (84), 152 (13), 107 (18), 78 (20), 77 (93); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.79-7.17 (m, 21H, 20Ar-H+C=CH), 3.86 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.75 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 1.06 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, CH3), 0.83 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, CH3); Anal. Calcd for C34H31N2O4P: C, 72.59; H, 5.55; N, 4.98; Found: C, 72.62; H, 5.53; N, 4.95.

General Preparation of Ethyl 2-Amino-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6a-6j). To a solution of iminophosphorane 3 (1.69 g, 3 mmol) in dry methylene dichloride (12 mL), an aryl isocyanate (3 mmol) was added under nitrogen at room temperature. After the reaction mixture was left to stand unstirred for 1 h at room temperature, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure and a mixture of ether/petroleum ether (1:2, 18 mL) was added to precipitate triphenylphosphine oxide. After filtration, the solvent was removed to give carbodiimide 4, which was used directly without further purification. To the solution of crude 4 in methylene dichloride (10 mL), amine (3 mmol) was added. After the reaction mixture was allowed to stand for 5 h, the solvent was removed and anhydrous ethanol (12 mL) with several drops of sodium ethoxide in ethanol was added. The mixture was stirred for 2 h at room temperature. The solution was then concentrated under reduced pressure and the residual was recrystallized from methylene dichloride/ethanol to give 6a-h. The characterization data of the compounds are given below:

Ethyl 3-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-(dipentylamino)-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6a). White crystals, mp 165-166 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 3120, 2954, 2927, 1696, 1675, 1537, 1494, 1296; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.84 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.43-7.20 (m, 9H, 9Ar-H), 4.40 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.04 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 4H, 2NCH2), 1.42 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, CH3), 1.29-1.08 (m, 12H, 2CH2CH2CH2), 0.86 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 6H, 2CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.3, 154.9, 154.7, 144.5, 138.0, 136.3, 136.1, 133.7, 130.4, 128.8, 128.5, 127.9, 125.4, 114.3, 109.3, 59.9, 51.3, 29.1, 27.0, 22.3, 14.2, 13.8. MS (m/z, %): 548 (M+, 39), 505 (36), 477 (70), 459 (25), 444 (31), 431 (100), 421 (33), 407 (29), 400 (20), 381 (24), 375 (65), 361 (20), 352 (22), 341 (44), 325 (27), 321 (34), 311 (36), 298 (33), 265 (42), 236 (16), 211 (20), 157 (11), 104 (10), 77 (20), 57 (11); Anal. Calcd for C31H37ClN4O3: C, 67.81; H, 6.79; N, 10.20; Found: C, 67.90; H, 6.83; N, 10.25.

Ethyl 3-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-(dipropylamino)-4-oxo-5- phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6b). White crystals, mp 154-155 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 3066, 2964, 2873, 1697, 1554, 1537, 1491, 1306; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.84 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.43-7.20 (m, 9H, 9Ar-H), 4.40 (q, J = 6.8 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.02 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 4H, 2NCH2), 1.42 (t, J = 6.8 Hz, 3H, CH3), 1.33-1.28 (m, 4H, 2CH2), 0.75 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 6H, 2CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.4, 155.0, 154.7, 144.6, 138.1, 136.4, 136.2, 133.8, 130.5, 128.9, 128.6, 128.0, 125.5, 114.4, 109.3, 59.9, 53.1, 20.7, 14.3, 11.4. MS (m/z, %): 492 (M+, 35), 449 (77), 421 (20), 403 (100), 375 (51), 353 (24), 340 (35), 311 (69), 293 (36), 265 (48), 236 (15), 210 (30), 155 (10), 103 (15), 77 (26); Anal. Calcd for C27H29ClN4O3: C, 65.78; H, 5.93; N, 11.36; Found: C, 65.69; H, 5.89; N, 11.44.

Ethyl 2-Morpholino-4-oxo-3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6c). White crystals, mp 250-251 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 3073, 2980, 2963 2851, 1714, 1696, 1558, 1415, 1295; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.84 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.47-7.31 (m, 10H, 10Ar-H), 4.40 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.41 (t, J = 4.8 Hz, 4H, 2OCH2), 3.19 (t, J = 4.8 Hz, 4H, 2NCH2), 1.42 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 162.9, 154.4, 144.0, 137.8, 136.6, 135.9, 128.6, 128.4, 127.8, 125.4, 114.9, 109.1, 65.7, 59.8, 49.1, 14.2. MS (m/z, %): 444 (M+, 77), 399 (51), 387 (46), 367 (11), 353 (62), 341 (100), 311 (26), 304 (21), 277 (12), 265 (48), 236 (8), 209 (5), 183 (7), 103 (8), 77 (17); Anal. Calcd for C25H24N4O4: C, 67.55; H, 5.44; N, 12.60; Found: C, 67.62; H, 5.51; N, 12.55.

Ethyl 4-Oxo-3,5-diphenyl-2-(piperidin-1-yl)-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6d). White crystals, mp 221-222 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 3112, 3069, 2936, 2846, 1690, 1560, 1540, 1293; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.82 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.45-7.29 (m, 10H, 10Ar-H), 4.40 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.18 (t, J = 5.6 Hz, 4H, 2NCH2), 1.44- 1.39 (m, 5H, CH3+CH2), 1.24-1.21 (m, 4H, 2CH2); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.2, 155.9, 155.0, 144.7, 138.1, 137.5, 136.0, 129.0, 128.6, 128.5, 127.9, 127.7, 125.6, 114.9, 109.1, 60.0, 50.1, 24.8, 24.0, 14.3. MS (m/z, %): 442 (M+, 79), 413 (25), 395 (23), 367 (92), 339 (20), 314 (18), 291 (29), 265 (53), 236 (14), 199 (18), 160 (100), 128 (8), 103 (16), 77 (22); Anal. Calcd for C26H26N4O3: C, 70.57; H, 5.92; N, 12.66; Found: C, 70.52; H, 6.04; N, 12.75.

Ethyl 4-Oxo-3,5-diphenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6e). White crystals, mp 230-231 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 2978, 2887, 1721, 1685, 1534, 1414; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.80 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.45-7.28 (m, 10H, 10Ar-H), 4.40 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3. 10 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 4H, 2NCH2), 1.74-1.71 (m, 4H, 2CH2), 1.43 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.4, 154.9, 153.2, 146.0, 138.2, 137.4, 136.1, 129.4, 128.8, 128.5, 127.9, 127.7, 125.4, 113.3, 108.3, 59.9, 49.9, 25.3, 14.4. MS (m/z, %): 429 (M+, 100), 399 (26), 382 (24), 371 (76), 353 (41), 330 (23), 325 (60), 278 (29), 250 (41), 211 (15), 154 (16), 103 (13), 77 (25). Anal. Calcd for C25H24N4O3: C, 70.08; H, 5.65; N, 13.08; Found: C, 69.99; H, 5.70; N, 13.01.

Ethyl 2-(Diethylamino)-4-oxo-3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6f). White crystals, mp 117-118 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 3129, 2979, 2933, 1717, 1690, 1577, 1553, 1415, 1290; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.83 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.45-7.26 (m, 10H, 10Ar-H), 4.40 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.14 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 4H, 2NCH2), 1.42 (t, J = 7.0 Hz, 3H, CH3), 0.84 (t, J = 6.8 Hz, 6H, 2CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.0, 154.9, 154.6, 144.3, 137.8, 137.4, 135.8, 128.8, 128.4, 128.2, 127.5, 127.4, 125.1, 114.3, 108.8, 59.5, 44.9, 14.0, 12.0. MS (m/z, %): 430 (M+, 62), 401 (78), 355 (100), 325 (11), 311 (14), 279 (39), 211 (11), 153 (11), 128 (17), 103 (20), 77 (38); Anal. Calcd for C25H26N4O3: C, 69.75; H, 6.09; N, 13.01; Found: C, 69.82; H, 6.02; N, 13.05.

Ethyl 2-(Tert-butylamino)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate (6g). White crystals, mp 223-224 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1 ): 3439, 2986, 2865, 1711, 1680. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 7.56-7.22 (m, 10H, C=CH+Ar-H), 4.26 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.87 (s, 1H, NH), 1.45 (s, 9H, 3CH3), 1.32 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, CH3); MS (m/z, %): 466 (M+, 3), 361 (41), 336 (15), 278 (15), 211 (12), 154 (27), 77 (64), 44 (100). Anal. Calcd for C25H25ClN4O3: C, 64.58; H, 5.42; N, 12.05; Found: C, 64.56; H, 5.51; N, 12.10.

Ethyl 2-(Cyclohexylamino)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7- carboxylate (6h). White crystals, mp 217-218 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1 ): 3437, 2999, 2880, 1717, 1684. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 7.82 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.44-7.23 (m, 9H, Ar-H), 4.40 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 4.06-4.04 (m, 1H, CH), 3.80 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H, NH), 2.04-2.02 (m, 2H, CH2), 1.63-1.06 (m, 11H, 4CH2+CH3). MS (m/z, %): 474 (M+, 2), 391 (7), 345 (17), 181 (12), 121 (19), 104 (41), 91 (40), 77 (54), 55 (100). Anal. Calcd for C27H27FN4O3: C, 68.34; H, 5.74; N, 11.81; Found: C, 68.28; H, 5.71; N, 11.90.

General Preparation of Ethyl 2-aryloxy-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7- carboxylate (6i, 6j). To the solution of crude carbodiimide 4 (3 mmol) in anhydrous acetonitrile (10 mL), phenol (3 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.2 g, 1.5 mmol) were added. The mixture was stirred at 50 ℃ for 4 h. After cooling, 20 mL water was added and stirring was continued until all the product was precipitated. The reaction mixture was filtered and washed with ethanol, and then the residue was recrystallized from methylene dichloride/ethanol to give 6i-6j in good yields. The characterization data of the compounds are given below:

Ethyl 3-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7- carboxylate (6i). White crystals, mp 215-216 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 3121, 2954, 2925, 2877, 1699, 1681; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 7.87 (s, 1H, C=CH), 7.45-6.89 (m, 13H, 13Ar- H), 4.26 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, CH2), 3.80 (s, 3H, OCH3), 1.22 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.1, 161.8, 157.0, 154.0, 152.4, 145.4, 142.8, 137.7, 136.3, 130.6, 130.0, 128.7, 128.2, 125.5, 122.1, 116.4, 114.9, 114.1, 109.9, 60.1, 55.5, 13.9. MS (m/z, %): 499 (M+, 1), 290 (26), 211 (9), 123 (60), 95 (81), 77 (100). Anal. Calcd for C28H22FN3O5: C, 67.33; H, 4.44; N, 8.41; Found: C, 67.41; H, 4.37; N, 8.38.

Ethyl 3-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7- carboxylate (6j). White crystals, mp 208-209 ℃; IR (KBr, cm˗1): 3122, 2964, 2915, 2871, 1695, 1680; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz) δ 7.87 (d, J = 4.2 Hz, 1H, C=CH), 7.46-7.00 (m, 13H, Ar-H), 4.26-4.23 (m, 2H, CH2), 2.35 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 3H, Ar-CH3), 1.21-1.16 (m, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3) δ 163.0, 162.9, 161.4, 153.8, 152.0, 151.9, 151.6, 149.5, 142.5, 139.1, 137.5, 136.1, 134.9, 130.5, 129.8, 129.4, 128.7, 128.4, 128.0, 126.1, 125.3, 121.5, 120.8, 118.1, 116.1, 115.9, 114.7, 110.0, 59.8, 20.9, 20.5, 13.6. MS (m/z, %): 483 (M+, 3), 274 (26), 121 (15), 91 (18), 77 (100). Anal. Calcd for C28H22FN3O4: C, 69.56; H, 4.59; N, 8.69; Found: C, 69.63; H, 4.54; N, 8.72.

 

Results and Discussion

The diethyl 3-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylate 2, easily prepared by reaction of compound 1 with ethyl bromoacetate under basic conditions, was converted into iminophosphorane 3 via reaction with triphenylphosphine, hexachloroethane and triethylamine in a dried acetonitrile solution in good yield (Scheme 1).

Scheme 1.Preparation of iminophosphorane 3.

Then the iminophosphorane 3 was allowed to react with aromatic isocyanates to form carbodiimides 4, which were allowed further to react with amines to obtain guanidine intermediates 5. Although guanidines 5 did not cyclize in refluxing toluene, in the presence of a catalytic amount of sodium ethoxide, guanidines 5 were easily converted to ethyl 2-amino-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2- d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate derivatives 6, one of the possible regioisomers, all in moderate to high yields at room temperature (Scheme 2). The results are listed in Table 1 (entry 6a- 6h). As shown in Scheme 3, the 3-amino-2-carboxylpyrroles can be used for the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines and the pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines can be constructed from 4-amino-3-carboxylpyrroles.30,31 However, when there are two carboxyl groups at the ortho position of the amino substituent, only compound 6 was monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and obtained from the reaction mixture after recrystallization. Compound 6 appears to be far more stable than 7 because of 6 is highly conjugated and the similar regioselective formation of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives have been observed in literatures.34-39 The proposed mechanism for the reaction is shown in Scheme 2, a key transient state intermediate 5 was assumed in the process, and followed by catalyzed cyclization, leading to the formation of compound 6 due to its lower activation energy for the formation than 7.

Scheme 2.Selective synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine.

Scheme 3.Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines30 and pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines.31

Table 1.aIsolated yields

The structures of the compound 6 were deduced based on their NMR, MS, IR and elementary analysis. For example, the IR spectral data of 6e revealed the groups of O=C-O and C=O absorption bands at 1721 and 1685 cm˗1, respectively. The 1H NMR spectrum of 6e shows the signals of NCH2 and CH3 groups at 3.10 and 1.43 ppm as two triplets, signals of OCH2 at 4.40 ppm as a quartet, and the two CH2 signals of the pyrrolidine ring appeared at 1.74-1.71 ppm. The signals attributable to the Ar-Hs and 5-H of the pyrrole ring are found at 7.28-7.45 and 7.80 ppm as multiplet and singlet, respectively. In the MS spectrum of 6e, the molecular ion peak (M+) at m/z 429 is observed with 100% abundance. Furthermore, the structure of 6 was confirmed again by Xray crystallographic analysis. A single crystal of 6f was obtained from a dichloromethane solution of 6f (Figure 1). X-ray structure analysis verified the proposed structure, and showed that the two fused rings of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine is approximately planar.33

In order to extend this method for preparation of ethyl 2,3,5-trisubstituted 4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]- pyrimidine-7-carboxylate derivatives, phenols were further used to react with carbodiimides 4. When carbodiimides 4 reacted with phenols, the presence of a catalytic amount of potassium carbonate produces ethyl 2-aryloxy-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate derivatives 6 (Y = OAr) directly in good yields, and no pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine 7 was monitored by thin layer chromatography(TLC) in the reactions. The results are listed in Table 1 (entries 6i-6j). It is reasonable to assume that the reactions of carbodiimides 4 with phenols take place through an initial nucleophilic addition to give the intermediates 5, which subsequently cyclized to produce ethyl 2-aryloxy-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate 6 under the basic conditions.

Figure 1.Single crystal X-ray structure of compound 6f.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have developed an efficient method to construct the previously unknown ethyl 2-amino/aryloxy-3-aryl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate derivatives 6 via reaction of carbodiimides with a variety of amines and phenols in a selective way. Because of the mild reaction conditions, satisfactory yields and versatile starting materials, this method may potentially be used for the synthesis of many pharmaceutically active ethyl 2,3,5-trisubstituted 4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-3H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-7-carboxylate derivatives.