Rapid Access to 1-Benzyl 2-Substituted Piperazines: Application to the Synthesis of 1-Benzyl-2-difluoromethyl-piperazine.

[image omitted] A rapid and efficient synthesis of 1-benzyl-2-difluoromethyl-piperazine is herein described. The new pathway has the advantage of avoiding orthogonal protection at the two piperazine nitrogen atoms; therefore it is suitable for access to several 1-benzyl 2-substituted piperazines starting from the simple commercially available N,N'-dibenzylethylendiamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]