Palladium-Catalyzed Modular Synthesis of Substituted Piperazines and Related Nitrogen Heterocycles

We report here a novel method for the modular synthesis of highly substituted piperazines and related bis-nitrogen heterocycles via a palladium-catalyzed cyclization reaction. The process couples two of the carbons of a propargyl unit with various diamine components to provide nitrogen heterocycles in generally good to excellent yields and high regio- and stereochemical control.