Various mono and bis-1,6-dihydropyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile derivatives were efficiently synthesized by reacting 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN), isocyanides and ketones in the presence of a catalytic amount of N,N,N′,N′-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide [TBBDA] and poly(N-bromo-N-ethylbenzene-1,3-disulfonamide) [PBBS] in EtOH/H2O at ambient temperature.
