5-Amino-6-methyl-3-phenylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one 1 was transformed into 2-alkoxy-1H-imidazoles 2a–f by treatment with various oxidative metal salts such as CuCl2, CuBr2, Cu(NO3)2, CuSO4, Tl(NO3)3, FeCl3 and Pb(OAc)4 in alkyl alcohols.
Treatment of 5-aminopyrimidln-4(3H)-one (1) with Lewis acidic metal salts such as zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc iodide, aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, nickel chloride, copper(I) chloride, or copper(I) iodide in the presence of oxidizing agents such as ceric ammonium nitrate, ammonium persulfate, or phenyliodine(III) diacetate in methanol gave 2-methoxy-1H-imidazole (2).