2,6-Dithiodecahydro-1H,5H-Diimidazo[4,5,-b:4′,5′-e]Pyrazine and related dioxo- and diimino-decahydrodiimidazopyrazines

Thiourea condensed with 1,4-diformyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydroxypiperazine 2 in the presence of hydrochloric acid to give 2,6-dithiodecahydro-1 H,5H-diimidazo4,5,-b:4′,5′-e]pyrazine 5 isolated as the dihydrochloride salt. The salt 5 . 2HCl was converted to the free base 5 by lithium hydroxide, to the dinitrate salt 5 . 2HNO₃ by silver nitrate, degraded to 2-thio-2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1 H-imidazo4,5-b]pyrazine 6 in a reaction with tert-butyl amine, and converted to 4,8-dihydro-4,8-dinitro-1H,5H-diimidazo4,5-b:4′,5′-e]pyrazine-2,6- disulfonic acid 9 by nitric acid (100%) at ?40°C. Denitration of the dinitramine 9 to give 4,8-dihydro-1H,5H-diimidazo4,5-b:4′,5′-e]pyrazine 11 was brought about by methanolic hydrogen chloride in ether. In one run nitration without oxidation converted the salt 5 · 2HCl to the dinitrate salt of the 4,8-dinitro derivative 10 ; treatment with triethyl amine liberated the free base 10 from the salt. Degradation of 2,6-dioxo-1,3,4,5,7,8-hexanitrodecahydro-1H,5H-diimidazo4,5-b:4′,5′-e]pyrazine 12 to 2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1,3-dinitro-1H-imidazo4,5-b] pyrazine 13 was brought about by hydrochloric acid. Treatment with lithium hydroxide also liberated 2,6-dioxodecahydro-1H,5H-diimidazo 4,5-b:4′,5′-e]pyrazine 3 from its dihydrochloride salt. Attempts to liberate 2,6-diiminodecahydro-1H, 5H-diimidazo4,5-b:4′,5′-e]pyrazine 4 from its tetrahydrochloride salt led instead to intractable mixtures. The tetrahydrochloride salt 4 · 4HCl was converted to the dihydrochloride salt 4 · 2HCl in a reaction with tert-butyl amine.