Sodium Cyanide → 5-Aminopyrazine-2-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Heat a suspension of 1.85 g (20.7 mmol) of copper cyanide and 1 g (20.7 mmol) of sodium cyanide in 20 ml of DMF to 135° C., while stirring. Add 3.6 g (20.7 mmol) of 5-bromopyrazin-2-amine to the solution obtained, and maintain the temperature of 135° C. for 18 h. Then add 2 equivalents of sodium cyanide and of copper cyanide and continue heating for a further 24 h. After cooling, add 100 mL of 0.3N aqueous solution of sodium cyanide, stir the mixture for 1 h at 40° C., then distribute it in 300 mL of EtOAc/water 1:1 mixture. After washing with 2×100 mL of water, dry the organic phase over Na2SO4 and concentrate under reduced pressure. Purify the residue obtained by silica gel column chromatography, eluting with a cyclohexane/EtOAc gradient from 0 to 100% of EtOAc. After concentration under reduced pressure, we obtain 1.24 g of 5-aminopyrazine-2-carbonitrile in the form of oil.

Provenance & Evidence