AbstractThe Suzuki Pd(0)‐catalysed coupling between arylboronic acids and aryl bromides or iodides in weakly alkaline medium has been used for the preparation of 5‐(3′‐chlorophenyl)‐, 5‐(3′‐iodophenyl)‐, 5‐(3′‐aminophenyl)‐, 5‐(3′‐azidophenyl)‐, 5‐(3′‐methylthiophenyl)‐ and 5‐(3′‐styryl)‐substituted 2,4‐di‐t‐butoxypyrimidines. In the coupling between 2,4 di‐t‐butoxy‐5‐pyrimidineboronic acid and the six different aryl halides that were used as coupling partners, only 1‐azido‐3‐bromobenzene did not give satisfactory yields, 18%. The other five aryl halides gave the desired 5‐(3′‐substituted phenyl)‐2,4‐di‐r‐butoxypyrimidines in 41–92% yield. Dealkylation of these five 5‐(3′‐substituted phenyl)‐2,4‐di‐t‐butoxypyrimidines in 2.5Mhydrochloric acid gave the corresponding 5‐(bromoaryl)uracils in almost quantitative yields. 5‐(3