Synthesis of new polysubstituted piperazines and dihydro-2H-pyrazines by selective reduction of 2-oxo-piperazines

New enantiomerically enriched 1,4,5-piperazines and 1,4,5-dihydro-2H-pyrazines have been prepared by reduction of the corresponding 2-oxo-piperazines. Selective reduction can be achieved by careful control of the reaction conditions using LiAlH4. Notably the two nitrogen atoms of the final compounds are orthogonally protected.