A simple and efficient one-step procedure is described for the synthesis of a number of symmetrical 1,4-disubstituted piperazine-2,5-diones under phase transfer conditions. The reactions are carried out at
room temperature, starting from a suitable N-chloroacetamide in the presence of an aqueous solution
of sodium hydroxide. Piperazine-2,5-diones were obtained with excellent selectivity in yields of up to
90%.
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Higher Education Authority
Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology
