Smiles Rearrangement as a Tool for the Preparation of Dihydrodipyridopyrazines

A novel methodology for the synthesis of isomer A of dihydrodipyridopyrazines was developed. The key transformation features a Smiles rearrangement of nitro substituted N,N′-dipyridinylamines, potential precursors of isomer B obtained by the alkylation of compounds prepared by a Pd-catalyzed reaction and subsequent cyclization.