5-Cyano-1-(dihydroxypropyl)-3-metliyluracils were synthesized in the reaction of 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-cyano-3-methyluracil with appropriate aminodiols. In the aprotic solvents, the reaction proceeds according to the ANRORC type mechanism. In protic solvents the products of Dimroth rearrangement were isolated. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.