Simons electrochemical fluorination of substituted homopiperazines(hexahydro-1,4-diazepines) and piperazines

Simons electrochemical fluorination (ECF) of 1,4-dimethyl-1,4-homopiperazine, methyl 4-ethylhomopiperazin-1-ylacetate and 1, 4-bis(methoxycarbonylmethyl)-1,4-homopiperazine was studied. For comparison, ECF of three piperazines with a N-(methoxycarbonylmethyl) group(s) was also studied. ECF of 1,4-dimethyl-1,4-homopiperazine gave a low yield of corresponding perfluoro(1,4dimethyl-1,4-homopiperazine) together with perfluoro(2,6-diaza-2,6-dimethylheptane) as the major product. Corresponding perfluoro(homopiperazines) with mono- and/or di-(fluorocarbonyldifluoromethyl) groups [-CF2C(O)F] at the 1- and/or 4-position were formed in low yields from methyl 4-ethylhomopiperazin-1-ylacetate and 1,4-bis(methoxycarbonylmethyl)-1,4-homopiperazine, respectively. These new seven-membered perfluoro(1,4-dialkyl-1,4-homopiperazines) were accompanied by the formation of mono- and/or di-basic linear perfluoroacid fluorides resulting from the C-C bond scission at the 2- and 3-positions of the ring. From mono- and/or di-N-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)-substituted piperazines, corresponding perfluoropeperazines having the acid fluoride group(s) were formed in low yields. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.