A method for the coupling of acyl and imino substituents to the sterically encumbered 5- position of a 4-aminoquinazoline was developed. Starting with a 4-amino-5- iodoquinazoline, the method employs a facile intramolecular zinc-mediated transfer from the 4-amino group to the iodo-bearing carbon. The method was found to be effective for a variety of substituents, in particular a pyridyl group required for the synthesis of Pfizer's ...