An efficient one-pot synthesis is described for the preparation of 1,4-disubstituted piperazine-2,5-diones
starting from a suitable amine and chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of an aqueous base. The resulting
chloroacetamide is cyclised in situ by employing the phase-transfer (PT) catalyst, benzyltriethylammonium
chloride (TEBA). The products are isolated in excellent yields of up to 90%.
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Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology