A simple synthesis of salicylamide and 2,5-diphenylpyrazine

The compound I (C7H7NO2, salicylamide) and the compound II (C16H12N2, 2,5-diphenylpyrazine) were both obtained as the by-product of the one-pot synthesis of oxazolinyl zinc complexes from the reaction of 2-hydroxybenzonitrile and 3-(N-ethyl-N-phenyl)-propanenitrile with d-phenylalaninol, which was catalyzed by 235 and 83.1 mol% zinc dichloride. Their structures were determined by X-ray diffraction, IR ,and elemental analysis.