Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)-1-Benzhydryl-4-cinnamylpiperazines via the Wittig Reaction

Abstract

A synthetic method of producing (E)- and (Z)-isomers of 1-benzhydryl-4-cinnamylpiperazines in a specific ratio from corresponding benzhydrylpiperazine is described. Of the three compounds synthesized (5a–c), the ratio of E/Z-isomers remained around 15:85. The key intermediates, 1-benzhydryl-4-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)piperazine derivatives (3a–c), were prepared by nucleophilic substitution reaction of benzhydrylpiperazines (2a–c) with chloroacetaldehyde dimethylacetal in good yield (up to 88%). Hydrolysis of 3a–c gave the corresponding aldehydes 4a–c, which when subjected to the Wittig reaction followed by column purification to afford 1a–c (E-isomers) and 6a–c (Z-isomers) in pure form. The isolated compounds were characterized by NMR and mass spectral analysis. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]