Atom-efficient synthesis of 2,6-diazacyclophane compounds through alcoholysis/reduction of 3-nitroarylmethylene-2,5-piperazinediones

Readily available cyclic dehydrodipeptides are convenient starting materials for atom-efficient synthesis of different compounds. A one-pot ring-opening/alcoholysis/hydrolysis process with 3-nitroarylmethylene-2,5-piperazinediones yielded N-3-nitroarylpyruvoylamino esters, which gave the corresponding amines by reduction of the nitro group. In the case of 2-nitroaryl compounds, an intramolecular reductive amination afforded N-indole-2-carbonylamino esters, while the intermolecular reductive amination of 3- and 4-nitroaryl derivatives allowed the synthesis of 2,6-diazacyclophanes. The amino compounds may be coupled with amino acids to get peptide-like derivatives.