Synthesis of 6-Amino-5-R2-7-(6-R1-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolyl)-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles

It has been found that malonodinitrile and 2-(6-R¹-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolyl)acetonitrile in the presence of triethylamine undergo hetarylation by 5,6-dichloro-2,3-pyrazinedicarbonitrile at the active methylene group to give the triethylammonium salt of 2-(3-chloro-5,6-dicyano-2-pyrazinyl)malononitrile or 5-chloro-6-cyano(6-R¹-4-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-quinazolylidene)methyl-2,3-pyrazinedicarbonitriles. Reaction of these with primary amines leads to annelation of the pyrrole ring at the pyrazine [b] edge to give 6-amino-5-R-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazine-2,3,7-tricarbonitriles and 6-amino-5-R²-7-(6-R¹-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2-quinazolyl)-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles respectively.