Regioselective synthesis of dipyrrolopyrazine (DPP) derivatives via metal free and metal catalyzed amination and investigation of their optical and thermal properties

Abstract

Pyrazine is an important molecular scaffold employed in organic optoelectronic materials. Here we report efficient methods for the synthesis of dipyrrolopyrazine, and pyrrolothieno-pyrazine derivatives that involve regio-selective amination reactions of dihalo-pyrrolopyrazines. The developed protocol readily affords either 2-amino- or 3-amino-pyrrolopyrazines from the corresponding 2-bromo-3-chloro-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazines. When the amination reactions are carried under metal free under microwave irradiation, 3-amino-pyrrolopyrazines are obtained exclusively. In contrast, Buchwald cross coupling of the 2-bromo-3-chloro-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazines affords only 2-amino-pyrrolopyrazine. The pyrrolopyrazine scaffolds were converted to the respective 1,7- and 1,5-dihydrodipyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazines derivatives using Sonogashira reactions. A comprehensive study of the optical properties, thermal properties, and molecular packing of the synthesized compounds was carried out. The results indicate that the 1,7-derivatives may be promising organic materials for optoelectronic applications.