An orthogonal protection strategy for the synthesis of 2-substituted piperazines

Tetrahydro-1H-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyrazin-3(5H)-ones are readily prepared from the bis-carbamate protected piperazine-2-carboxylic acids and serve as orthogonally protected piperazines from which a variety of 2-substituted piperazines can be prepared. Sodium benzylate and sodium phenoxides react at the C-5 carbon of the oxazolidinone to yield 2-(benzyloxymethyl)piperazines and 2-(phenoxymethyl)piperazines, respectively. The tetrahydro-1H-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyrazin-3(5H)-ones also provide convenient scaffolds from which 2-benzyl- and 2-phenethylpiperazines are prepared.