A facile conversion of the methyl group to the cyano group of 5-amino-6-methyluracils and 4-aminoantipyrine

A facile conversion of the methyl group of 1,3-disubstituted 5-amino-6-methyluracils (1a-c) or 4-amino-antipyrine (5) to a cyano group was carried out via fused isoselenazole ring-formation followed by nitration and reduction.