Efficient N-Arylation/Dealkylation of Electron Deficient Heteroaryl Chlorides and Bicyclic Tertiary Amines under Microwave Irradiation

A highly efficient procedure was developed for the microwave-assisted synthesis of N-heteroaryl-4-(2-chloroethyl)piperazines and N-heteroaryl-4-(2-chloroethyl)piperidines. Microwave irradiation of electron deficient heteroaryl chlorides with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) at 160 °C for 15 min led to N-heteroaryl-4-(2-chloroethyl)piperazines in good to excellent yields. In a similar manner, microwave irradiation of electron deficient heteroaryl chlorides with quinuclidine at 180 °C for 15 min provided N-heteroaryl-4-(2-chloroethyl)piperidines in good to excellent yields. Extension of the method was demonstrated by the development of a one-pot, two-step microwave-assisted protocol for the synthesis of 4-(2-acetoxyethyl)-substituted N-heteroarylpiperazines and N-heteroarylpiperidines to demonstrate the production of a small library in a parallel fashion.