Synthesis of pyrazine acetals by the biased reaction of symmetric 2,5-bis(chloromethyl) or 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(chloromethyl) substituents on pyrazine ring with sodium alkoxides

2,5-Bis(chloromethyl)pyrazine reacted with sodium alkoxide to give unexpected 2-dialkoxymethyl-5-methylpyrazine along with normal substitution product, 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)pyrazine. The reaction of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(chloromethyl)pyrazine with sodium alkoxide afforded similar results to yield 2,6-bis(dialkoxymethyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazine along with other alkoxymethylpyrazines. The ratio of products depended on the solvent and alkoxide used. A general discussion of the mechanism of such a pyrazine acetal synthesis in the basic conditions is given.