Two series of 2-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl) pyrazines were prepared and subjected to pyrolysis conditions (170 OC/diglyme solution). Series A (4a-e) includes substrates in which alkyl groups are placed on the hydroxyalkyl side chain and series B (5a-f) includes pyrazineethanols in which alkyl groups are placed at C (3) of the pyrazine ring. In all cases, the retro-ene reaction yields quantitatively the respective alkylpyrazines and ...