Convenient synthesis of 1,3-substituted-6-phenylpiperazin-2-ones

The convenient preparation of novel 6-phenylpiperazin-2-ones from simple starting materials via a practical two-step procedure is presented. This methodology involves an initial alkylation of 2-bromoacetophenone with an amino ester followed by a one-pot reductive amination and cyclization step to furnish the desired substituted piperazinones.