APPROACH TO THE SYNTHESIS OF ASTECHROME

The coupling reaction between 2-chloro-6-chloromethyl-5-methoxy-3-meth ylpyrazine 1-oxide and indolylmagnesium bromide gave ro-6-(indol-3-yl) methyl-5-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine 1-oxide, which was converted to a hy droxamic acid derivative via an indoline. The synthesis of xy-6-(indol -3-yl)methyl-5-methoxy-3-methylpyrazine 1-oxide, constituting the skel eton of astechrome, was accomplished from the Fe salt of the correspon ding indolinehydroxamic acid derivative by oxidation with bis(salicyli dene)ethylenediaminato cobalt(II) [Co(Salen)].