Abstract The reaction of 2, 4, 6-tris (trimethylsiloxy) pyrimidine with 2-oxabutane-1, 4-diyl diacetate in methylene chloride in methylene chloride in the presence of SnCl 4 proceeds regioselectively to form 1-[(2-acetoxyethoxy) methyl] barbituric acid. The latter is readily deacetylated to a free acyclic analog of N-ribosides of barbituric acid. 1-[(2-Acetoxy-and 2- hydroxyethoxy) methyl] barbituric acids easily react with aromatic and heterocyclic ...