Single‐step conversion of aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic primary amines into piperazine‐2,6‐diones

Abstract

Abstract The development of a facile, single‐step method for the synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted piperazine‐2,6‐diones ( 4 ) in excellent yields from the corresponding aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic primary amines and iminodiacetic acids ( 1 ) is described. A possible mechanism is discussed and the presence of intermediate 6a is confirmed by high‐resolution proton NMR spectroscopy. The subsequent two‐step conversion of dione 4a into the deoxygenated 4‐unsubstituted piperazine 10 in high yield provides an attractive alternative to the currently available (hetero)arylpiperazine synthetic methods.