A new route to perimidines has been developed which involves reaction of a nitrile oxide with 1,8-diaminonaphthalene. Benzonitrile oxide, generated by dehydrochlorination of benzohydroximoyl chloride, and 1,8-diaminonaphthalene afforded 2-phenylperimidine. 2-Pyranosylperimidines were prepared by the same approach from pyranosyl hydroximoyl chlorides. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.