The cyclocondensation of α-acylacetamidines with esters of 2-fluoro-5-nitrobenzoic and 4-chloro-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinecarboxylic acids leads to condensed azines. The reaction proceeds chemoselectively such that the α-carbon atom of the amidine replaces the halogen atom in the aromatic ring, while the amino group reacts with the ester group. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.