Synthesis, experimental and computational studies of N-(4-amino-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-5-yl)benzamide

Background: Blockade of kainate receptors is an emerging strategy to treat neurodegenera-tive diseases, including Parkinson’s disease as well as to treat epilepsy. In particular, non-competitive antagonists of kainate receptors are promising due to the expected good safety profile. We present here synthesis, experimental and computational studies of N-(4-amino-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidin-5-yl)benzamide which is an intermediate in the synthesis of hypoxanthine derivatives which were designed as non-competitive antagonists of kainate GluK1/GluK2 receptors. Method: The title compound was obtained in a five-step synthesis protocol and characterized used X-ray crystallography and experimental and computed spectra. Results: The presented detailed X-ray studies of the title compound confirm the reaction course. The title compound crystallizes in triclinic P-1 space group. The asymmetric unit comprises two independent molecules of the compound (A and B) and a DMF solvent molecule. The interpretation of IR spectra was facilitated by Potential Energy Distribution (PED) analysis. The low value of HOMO-LUMO gap indicates that the studied compound is relatively reactive. Conclusion: The title compound is a well-characterized intermediate which will be subjected to cycli-zation to hypoxanthine derivative designed as non-competitive antagonist of kainate GluK1 and GluK2 receptors.