Some
cis/
trans-2-thioquinazolin-4-ones and their 2,4-dione analogs were subjected to flash vacuum pyrolysis. The
cis- and
trans-thio compounds reacted at lower temperatures than the
cis- and
trans-dioxo analogs, showing a lower thermal stability. All of these compounds afforded similar reactions: ring opening to the corresponding iso(thio)cyanate, the loss of H
border=0> and
border=0>NCS to form three isomeric cyclohexadienes and then aromatization to form the corresponding benzamide. The
cis-dioxo compound also underwent a competitive retro Diels–Alder (RDA) reaction to form 3-phenylpyrimidine-2,4(1
H,3
H-dione(3-phenyluracil)) and butadiene. Kinetic measurements of the ring opening reaction supported a concerted β-elimination as the most probable mechanism.