Reactions of la with a, y-Diketo Esters We previously reported2 that simple a-keto esters cyclize straightforwardly with (l-alkylhydrazino) isocytosines 1 in methanol or water to give pyrimido [4, 5-c] pyridazine-4, 5-(lH, GH)-diones 2. Only with diethyl oxomalonate was the product 3 of reversed orientation obtained (Scheme I). Extension of this synthesis by reaction of 6-(l-methylhydrazino) isocytosine la and a,?-diketo esters (4, Table I) in ...