A short synthesis of the triazolopyrimidine antibiotic essramycin.

A short synthesis of the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine antibiotic essramycin is described involving condensation of aminoguanidine with ethyl benzoylacetate to give an amino-1,2,4-triazole, followed by condensation with ethyl acetoacetate to form the pyrimidone ring.