Abstract A highly effective method for the selective removal of chlorine from the 7-position of the 1, 2, 4-triazolo [1, 5-α] pyrimidine ring in the presence of chlorine at the 5-or 6-positions is reported. The method involves treatment of the appropriate substrate with zinc-copper couple in the presence of acetic acid in methanol-tetrahydrofuran. The method enables the construction of a variety of substitution patterns in key intermediates for the 1, 2, 4-triazolo [ ...