Homolytic acylation of protonated pyridines and pyrazines with .alpha.-keto acids: the problem of monoacylation

The silver-catalyzed decarboxylation of α-keto acids by persulfate leads to acyl radicals, which can effect the selective homolytic acylation of pyridine and pyrazine derivatives. Compared with the previously developed source of acyl radicals by hydrogen abstraction from aldehydes, this procedure is more effective in monoacylation when multiple positions of high nucleophilic reactivity are available in the heterocyclic ring. Although the introduction of an acyl group strongly activates the heterocyclic ring toward further substitution, monoacylation can be achieved by taking advantage of the difference in basicity and lipophilicity between the starting base and the monoacylation products in a two-phase system.