A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Ammonium Bifluoride Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of Quinoxalines and Pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines

International audience; Ammonium bifluoride was efficiently used (at a 0.5 mol % loading) to catalyze the cyclocondensation between 1,2-arylenediamines and 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds at room temperature in methanol-water, affording quinoxalines and pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines in excellent yields. Importantly, 2,8-disubstituted quinoxalines and 3-substituted pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazines were regioselectively formed by reacting aryl glyoxals with 3-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine and 2,3-diaminopyridine, respectively. Analysis of the DFT reactivity indices allowed to explain the catalytic role of ammonium bifluoride.