Reactivity of Piperazine-2,5-diones

N-alkylation and N-acylation of piperazine-2,5-diones are quite common and have been routinely employed in several synthetic sequences (see Section IV,C). Such operations have also been performed as measures for the temporary protection of the nitrogen during further synthetic maneuvers in other parts of the molecule. Three different alkyl groups have been employed as such protecting groups. Kishi has used the methoxymethyl group for N-protection (potassium r-butoxide, chloro-methyl methyl ether 0°C, 75% yield). Deprotection was achieved by cone. HCl-ethanol at reflux temperature (81T2045). 

Methylthiomethyl has been used as the protecting group in the total synthesis of neoechinulin A (80TL2817). Cyclo(L-Ala-Gly) was treated with sodium hydride in DMF and N-alkylated with chloromethyl methyl thioether at room temperature, to give the bis(methylthiomethyl) derivative. After further chemical transformations, deprotection was achieved by treatment with methyl iodide in the presence of NaHC03 at 40°C for 3 days, followed by heating in dioxane at 100°C for 1 h. 

Yoshimura has introduced the p-methoxybenzyl group for N-protection in piperazine-2,5-diones (83CL1001 85BCJ1413). The N-alkylation is carried out with sodium hydride and p-methoxybenzyl bromide in DMF at room temperature. Deprotection is achieved by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in acetonitrile-water. 

N-arylation has also formed the basis of the synthesis of analogs of aranotins (77JOC948). In this case, the N,N-bis-arylated product (37) has been obtained in 32% yield from piperazine-2,5-dione (Cu2I2, K2C03, CH3CN). 

At intramolecular variant of the N-arylation reaction has led to the pentacyclic compound (38) (Cu2 Cl2, K2C03, diglyme). 

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