Synthetic approaches to 2-substituted pyrimidines have been studied in an effort to facilitate the preparation of the pyrimidine moiety of bleomycin (2). Ethyl 2, 5dimethyl-4oxopyrimidine- 6-carboxylate (4) has been utilized as starting material, its conversion to the respective ethyl 2-(carboallroxy)-5methyl-4-oxopyrimidine-~~~ xylates provided electrophilic intermediates for attempted elaboration of the 2-substituent, while treatment of 4 with pyridine promoted ...