Preparation of 2,6-disubstituted-5-cyano-4-pyrimidinyloxyacetic acid aldose reductase inhibitors

The process for the production of the compounds of formula (I) ##STR21## wherein R.sup.1 is lower alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cyclo(lower)alkyl containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl, halogen substituted phenyl, phenylmethyl, naphthalenyl, 5-bromonaphthalenyl, or 2-thienyl;

• R is --S--R.sup.2 wherein R.sup.2 is lower alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, lower cycloalkylmethyl having 4 to 7 carbon atoms, phenylmethyl or halogen substituted phenylmethyl;
• or R is R.sup.3 wherein R.sup.3 is lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl, or 1-naphthalenylmethyl which comprises O-alkylating the compounds of formula ##STR22## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined above X--CH.sub.2 --COOR.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is lower alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and X is bromine or iodine in the presence of a strong base in DMF solvent to produce the compounds of formula ##STR23## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.4 are as defined above and hydrolyzing the ester group to produce the desired compounds of formula (I).