The nitration of 2,4-diamino-5-(4 chlorophenyl)-6-ethypyrimidine(pyrimethamine) (I) with HNO3 in H2SO4 gives 2,4-diamino-4-(4-chloro-3 nitrophenyl)- 6-ethylpyrimidine (II), which is reduced with SnCl2 in 10 N HCl or with hydrazine hydrate - Raney Nickel in 95% ethanol at 65 C to afford 2,4-diamino-5-(3-amino-4-chlorophenyl)-6-ethylpyrimidine (III). The diazotation of (III) with NaNO2 - HCl and treatment of the diazonium salt with sodium azide yields 2,4-diamino-5-(3-azido-4-chlorophenyl)-6-ethylpyrimidine (IV), which is treated finally with ethylsulfonic acid (V).