The 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 2.5M hydrochloric acid gave the corresponding 5-(bromoaryl)uracils in almost quantitative yields. 5-(3′-Azidophenyl)uracil was prepared in 43% yield directly from 5-(3′-aminophenyl)-2,4-di-r-butoxypyrimidine.