Regioselective double Boekelheide reaction: first synthesis of 3,6-dialkylpyrazine-2,5-dicarboxaldehydes from dl-alanine

Pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxaldehyde was synthesized on a multi-gram scale by MnO2 oxidation of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrazine, which in turn was obtained from 2,5-dimethylpyrazine employing double Boekelheide reaction as a key step as reported previously. This reaction was subsequently utilized in a regioselective fashion as a key step to synthesize efficiently, for the first time, 3,6-di(long-chain)alkylpyrazine-2,5-dicarboxaldehydes starting from dl-alanine. These monomers are certain to have importance as electron deficient and chemically versatile components for new materials development.