A robust and scalable method was developed for the syn- thesis of N,N¢-dialkylated aminopyrazines by a reductive amination route. These new fluorescent pyrazine analogues were shown to ab- sorb and emit light at relatively long wavelengths (~50 nm) com- pared to the corresponding diaminopyrazines. The utility of these compounds was demonstrated by the synthesis of hydrophilic fluo- rescent probes with potential diagnostic applications. Current medical guidelines are gravitating toward the use of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as the most appropriate measure of renal function in the determination of kidney health or illness. Interventions based on GFR values are then applied to patients. Typically, GFR is not measured directly; the most common method of assessing renal function in the clinic involves determination of serum concentration of an endogenous blood marker such as cre- atinine. Serum creatinine has an inverse relationship to GFR, 2 and is highly dependent on age, gender, muscle mass, and many other anthropometric variables, thus making it a poor surrogate for a renal function assay. 3 The best methodology for measurement of GFR is by clearance of exogeneous tracer agents. Several such