Direct metalation of 5-bromopyrimidine with lithium diisopropylamide afforded 4-lithio-5-bromopyrimidine. The intermediate lithiopyrimidine could be trapped by a variety of carbonyl compounds, giving 5-bromo-4-pyrimidine carbinols which were easily dehalogenated. The structure of each product was determined by NMR, mass spectra, and elemental analyses. The stability of the lithiopyrimidine was also examined. This simple two-step method represents a new method of entry into the 4-position of pyrimidine. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.