Synthesis of 1,4-diazines by ring expansion of 1,3-diazines.

Fully saturated piperazin-3-one and quinoxalin-3-one derivatives were prepared by reactions of 2-anilino-2-ethoxy-3-oxothiobutanoic acid anilide with aliphatic 1,2-diamines. An unusual ring expansion of the intermediate 1,3-diazines leads to 1,4-diazines. Moreover, quinoxalin-3-one derivatives from chiral trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane were obtained with diastereoselectivity >95%.