Regioselective Synthesis of 2-Amino-5-(or 3-)arylazo-Substituted Pyridines and Pyrazines from Pyridinium N-Aminides

Differently modified 2‐aminopyridines and pyrazines bearing an arylazo group at the 3‐ or 5‐position have been generated from pyridinium N‐aminides in a regioselective fashion. The detailed chemistry starts with attack of the N‐aminide on a diazonium salt, to form the arylazo derivative. N‐alkylation on the exocyclic nitrogen and reduction to break the N–N bond then affords the final compounds, as an extension of the broad synthetic uses of the pyridinium N‐aminides. Different substituted 2‐aminopyridines and pyrazines bearing an arylazo group at the 3‐ or 5‐position have been prepared from pyridinium N‐aminides in a regioselective process.