Step 3: To a 5L sealed reaction tube was added (6-chloropyrazin-2-yl)acetic acid (220 g, 1.27 mol, 1.00 equiv) and deionized water (3L). The reaction mixture was stirred at 130 °C overnight. Upon completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled to room temperature and subsequently extracted with ether (2 x 3 L). The organic phases were combined, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford 238 g (73% yield) of 2-chloro-6-methylpyrazine as a yellow solid.
