Synthesis of sulfur-bridged piperazinediones by reaction of 3,6-dibromo-1,4-dimethyl-2,5-piperazinedione with geminal dithiols

The reaction of several geminal dithiols with 3,6-dibromo-1,4-dimethyl-2,5-piperazinedione gave in good yields piperazinedione derivatives substituted at the 3,6-position with a geminal dithiol-bridging group. These sulfur-bridged piperazinediones formally represent derivatives of the 2,4-dithia-6,8-diaza-7,9-dioxobicyclo[3.2.2]nonane ring system. Attempts to transform these sulfur-bridged piperazinediones to 3,6-epidithiopiperazinediones by removal of the bridging group common to the sulfur functionality were unsuccessful. Studies also are reported of addition of thioacetic acid to 3,6-dimethylene-2,5-piperazinedione to give 3,6-diacetylthio-3,6-dimethyl-2,5-piperazinedione. Conversion of the 3,6-diacetylthio derivative to the epithiopiperazinedione ring system yielded a mixture of epimono- and epidithiopiperazinediones.