Suzuki reaction on pyridinium N-haloheteroarylaminides: regioselective synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted 2-aminopyrazines

An extensive study of Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling processes on N-pyridinium bromoazinyl aminides has been performed. Mono- and disubstitution on 5- and 3,5-bromo derivatives produced the corresponding aryl derivatives. In the disubstituted compounds regioselective substitution at the 3-position occurred, vicinal to the aminide nitrogen, and this was more evident in pyrazine derivatives. The commonly used strategy involving N-alkylation and reduction of the N–N bond gave rise to a series of 2-alkylamino-3,5-disubstituted-pyrazines.