A new and effective procedure was developed for the synthesis of 3-ethylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one from o-phenylenediamine and ethyl 2-oxobutanoate. The latter was prepared by the Grignard reaction of diethyl oxalate with ethylmagnesium bromide or iodide. The ethyl group in 3-ethylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one can readily be converted into various functional groups: α-bromoethyl, α-thiocyanato, α-azidoethyl, α-phenylaminoethyl, acetyl, and bromoacetyl. The reaction of 3-(bromoacetyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one with thiourea and hydrazine-1,2-dicarbothioamide gives the corresponding 3-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl) derivatives.We previously showed that 3-(α-chlorobenzyl)-quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (I), which is readily available via reaction of 3-chloro-3-phenyl-2-oxopropionates with o-phenylenediamine, is a convenient polyfunctional reagent for the synthesis of various fused quinoxaline derivatives, such as thiazolo[3,4-a]-, imidazo-[1,5-a]-, pyrrolo[1,2-a]-, pyrazolo[3,4-b]-, pyrano-[5,6-b]-, and indolizino[2,3-b]quinoxalines [1][2][3][4][5]. The key factor in the formation of all these compounds is favorable arrangement of the α-chlorobenzyl group with respect to the endocyclic imino and carbamoyl moieties. Replacement of the chlorine atom by appropriate groups gives rise to structural fragments necessary for the subsequent ring closure at the a or b side of the pyrazine ring in the initial quinoxaline.