An efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of dihydropyrazinones and bis-benzoylketones

Microwave-assisted modified Sandmeyer reactions of oximinoacetanilides, themselves obtained from substituted primary aromatic amines, in concentrated H2SO4 give isatins. N-Acetylisatins undergo ring cleavage and subsequent ring closing with alkanediamines in the presence of ethanol under MW irradiation to give the corresponding dihydropyrazinones in excellent yields. Modification of the reaction conditions affords bis-benzoylketones under MW irradiation.