Total chemical synthesis of 2-ethenyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine and 3-ethenyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine

The aroma compounds 2-ethenyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine 1 and 3-ethenyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine 2 were synthesized via a new chemical route. The key steps of the synthesis involve cyclocondenzation of 1-bicyclo2.2.1]5-hepten-2-yl]-1,2-propanedione and 1,2-propanediamine, aromatization of the resulting 5,6-dihydropyrazines, and subsequent Retro-Diels-Alder reaction to generate pyrazines 1 and 2. Pyrazine 1, a powerful odorant, was obtained in large excess (8:2) when endo-1-bicyclo2.2.1]5-hepten-2-yl]-1,2-propanedione was used as intermediate substrate.