Highly efficient synthesis of 5,6-disubstituted-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles through a one-pot palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction/cyclization in water

A highly efficient one-pot synthesis of 5,6-disubstituted-5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles is presented. The reaction of 5-(alkyl-arylamino)-6-chloropyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles with phenylacetylene, catalyzed by Pd-Cu, in the presence of SDS as the surfactant in water, leads to the desired products in good-to-high yields.