An easy route for the synthesis of pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile 5,6-bis-substituted derivatives using a palladium catalyst

An easy synthetic method for the preparation of pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile 5,6-bis-substituted derivatives using Pd-catalyzed cross coupling reaction (Sonogashira, Suzuki, Heck) is described. The reaction conditions allow preparing symmetrical and unsymmetrical bis-substituted products in moderate to high yields, as precursors for the preparation of highly substituted symmetrical and non-symmetrical aza-phthalocyanines with well-defined spectral properties.