Abstract: C-8 substituted 1, 3-dipropylxanthines are typically prepared by reduction of the aminonitrosouracil 2 to the corresponding diamine, which is acylated and then treated with strongly basic or dehydrating reagents to afford the xanthine 1. Working to discover a milder, more efficient, reaction sequence it was found that the C-6 amino group of 2 can be acylated, and that treatment of the resulting compounds with Sn (OAc) 2 gave 8- ...
