In an attempt to find a new class of antitubercular agents, a series of 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile were prepared via the reaction of ethyl N-ethoxycarbonylbenzimidate 2a-b with cyanoacetanilide derivatives 1a-c. These compounds were screened for their antitubercular activity against M. tuberculosis. Several analogues, such as 2,6-dioxo-1-phenyl-4-p-tolyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile 3a, 1-benzyl-2, 6-dioxo-4-p-tolyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile 3c and 1-benzyl-2, 6-dioxo-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile 3d exhibited a potent antitubercular activity with an MIC values ranging from 10-35 µg/ml. Structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established by spectral data and HRMS
