Synthesis of 2,4-pyrimidinediamines

1. A composition comprising di-tert-butyl chloromethyl phosphate:

and an amide, wherein

the amide is of formula R 20 CON(R 21 ) 2

R 20 is selected from hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl; and

each R 21 is independently hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl, or both of R 21 and the nitrogen with which they are attached form a 4 to 6 membered aliphatic ring;

or

R 20 and one of the R 21 join together with the carbon and nitrogen to which they are attached, respectively, to form a 4 to 6 membered nitrogen containing ring, and the other R 21 is hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl;

and the optional substituents are selected from alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, nitroso, and cyano.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the amide is a solvent.

3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the amide is a tertiary amide.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the tertiary amide is N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc).