Tricyclic heteroaromatic systems. 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline

The parent 1,2,4-triazolo1,5-a]quinoxaline was prepared by a few-step reaction from ethyl N¹-(2-nitrophenyl)-N³-ethoxalyloxamidrazonate, which afforded the key intermediate diethyl 1-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dicarboxylate in satisfactory yield. The latter was cyclized, hydrolyzed, decarboxylated, reduced and dehydrogenated to yield the title compound.