Efficient Synthesis of Piperazinediones Using Potassium Iodide Catalysis in Aqueous Media

A simple and efficient synthetic approach to 1,4-disubstituted piperazine-2,5-diones was developed. A series of symmetrical 1,4-disubstituted piperazine-2,5-diones was prepared from chloroacetamides using potassium iodide catalysis in acetone/water. The structures of two products were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.