The chemistry of pyrazine and its derivatives. X. The mono- and diacylation of tetramethylpyrazine

By the use of sodium amide in liquid ammonia or phenyllithium in ether as the condensing agent it has been possible to synthesize a series of ketones containing the pyrazine ring with the structure, RCOCH2C4N2(CH3)3 where R is alkyl, aryl or heterocyclic. Also, under appropriate conditions, tetramethylpyrazine has been diacylated to give three diketones of the type (2-RCOCH2)-(6-R' COCH2)C4N2(CH3)2-3, 5.