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Methyl 2-pyrazinecarboxylate

Methyl 2-pyrazinecarboxylate (CAS 6164-79-0) is a strategically functionalized pyrazine ester engineered for heterocyclic diversification, pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis, and ligand development. This molecule integrates an electron-deficient pyrazine core—a six-membered aromatic diazine ring with nitrogen atoms at para positions (1,4)—with a methyl ester substituent at the C2 position. The ester moiety serves as a versatile synthetic handle for hydrolysis to the free acid, amide coupling, transesterification, or reduction to the alcohol, while the pyrazine ring provides unique hydrogen-bonding acceptor capability and metabolic stability compared to pyridine analogs. The C2-substitution pattern enables specific binding orientations in kinase active sites and facilitates ortho-directed functionalization strategies. This intermediate is particularly valuable for constructing fused heterocycles (pyrazino-fused systems), ATP-mimetic scaffolds, nitrogen-rich ligands, and prodrug architectures where the pyrazine-ester motif balances electron-deficient character with synthetic flexibility. Manufactured with purity ≥98% under controlled conditions, it supports drug discovery programs requiring modular access to functionalized diazine architectures with tunable reactivity.

Property

Product Name
Methyl 2-pyrazinecarboxylate
CAS Number
6164-79-0
Chinese Name
吡嗪 -2-羧酸甲酯
Synonyms
Methyl pyrazine-2-carboxylate; 2-(Methoxycarbonyl)pyrazine; Pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; C₆H₆N₂O₂ heterocycle
Chinese Synonyms
2-吡嗪羧酸甲酯; 吡嗪-2-甲酸甲酯; 甲氧羰基吡嗪; 2-位酯基吡嗪
Molecular Formula
C₆H₆N₂O₂
Molecular Weight
138.13 g/mol 
Purity
≥ 98% (HPLC/GC area normalization)
Product Category
Pharmaceutical Intermediates / Pyrazine Derivatives / Heterocyclic Esters
Appearance
Colorless clear liquid
Melting Point
~45-50°C (literature reference recommended)
Boiling Point
~220-230°C at 760 mmHg (estimated)
Storage Conditions
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from light and moisture. Keep container tightly closed under inert atmosphere (nitrogen). Protect from strong bases to avoid ester hydrolysis and from strong acids to avoid pyrazine ring protonation/degradation.
Shelf Life
24 months under recommended storage conditions
Packaging
100mg/vial, 500mg/vial, 1g/bottle, 5g/bottle, or customized according to customer requirements
Applications
Kinase inhibitor synthesis, heterocyclic library construction (pyrazino-fused systems), ligand development for coordination chemistry, prodrug design via ester hydrolysis, amide coupling for drug conjugates, pyrazine-based material precursor
Reactivity
Suitable for ester hydrolysis to acid, amide coupling (activation via EDC/HATU), transesterification, reduction to alcohol, electrophilic aromatic substitution at C3/C5/C6, and Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling (after halogenation)
Special Note
Electron-Deficient Heterocyclic Ester—pyrazine core provides unique binding geometry vs. pyridine analogs. C2-ester enables versatile derivatization via hydrolysis/coupling. Part of our pyrazine building block series.