A novel
technique for generating tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) was
proposed, carried out on a phenolics-Fenton coupled redox cycling
system in an acetoin-ammonium acetate (AA-ACT) pattern reaction. The
TTMP generation employing the Fenton system is a first-order reaction
that significantly increased the reaction rate, especially in the
early stages, distinguishing it from the original zero-order kinetics
reaction pattern. Further, the Fenton reaction effectively promotes
the TTMP generation at lower temperature, and epigallocatechin gallate
(EGCG) could reset the Fenton reaction, accomplishing the redox cycle.
We have discovered a novel class of intermediate products, N-substituted
amides, which act as a “reservoir” and transform into amino acid, then undergo aromatization to generate
TTMP. The results provide a useful supplement for intelligent synthesis
route design, and a new approach for understanding the transformation
pathways of pyrazines.