Synthesis and thermal rearrangement of allylic 3,5,6-trimethyl-2-pyrazinylacetates: A heterocyclic carroll rearrangement

The synthesis of allylic 3,5,6-trimethyl-2-pyrazinylacetates 2–4 has been achieved by the reaction of 3,5,6-trimethyl-2-pyrazinylacetic acid lithium salt ( 1 ) with phenyl dichlorophosphate followed by addition of the allylic alcohol. On thermolysis, the allylic β-heteroaromatic esters underwent a rearrangement, analogous to the Carroll rearrangement, to generate the corresponding γ,δ-unsaturated heteroaromatic compound. The configuration of the double bond formed in the product was the E-isomer. The rate of the rearrangement was dependent on the substitution pattern of the allylic portion of the molecule with 4>2>3 . The ester enolate version of the heterocyclic Carroll rearrangement was investigated with 2 , however these conditions did not promote the rearrangement.