Synthesis of condensed pyrrolo[b]pyrazines

Reaction of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanopyrazine with -azahetarylacetonitriles gives -(3-chloro-5,6-dicyanopyrazin-2-yl)--(2-azahetaryl)acetonitriles. Subsequent heating in pyridine causes an intramolecular cyclization to yield condensed pyrrolob]pyrazines.Taras Shevchenko University, Kiev 252033, Ukraine; e-mail: dov@fosfor.kiev.ua. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, pp. 1234–1238, September, 1999.