Cp2TiCl2-catalyzed synthesis of tetraalkyl-substituted pyrazines by the reaction of nitriles with EtAlCl2 and Mg

Tetraalkyl-substituted pyrazines were obtained by the multicomponent reaction of aliphatic linear nitriles with EtAlCl₂ in the presence of Mg and Cp₂TiCl₂ catalyst in 60–91% yields. The same processing of isobutyronitrile gave 2,4,5-triisopropyl-1H-imidazole in 56% yield.