Ethyl Acetate → 4-Benzylpiperazine-2,6-dione

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A suspension of 2,2′-(benzylazanediyl)diacetic acid (5.0 g, 22.4 mmol) and ammonium formate (4.2 g, 67.2 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (75 mL) was stirred to reflux (160° C.) for 2 days. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was diluted by successive addition of ethyl acetate (150 mL) and a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (150 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×150 mL) and the combined organic phases were washed with a saturated solution of sodium chloride (3×100 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under vacuum to give the title product as a yellow liquid (3.96 g, 87%).

Provenance & Evidence