Synthesis of 1,4-Diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-6-ones

1,4-Diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (aza-morphans) represent conformationally constrained piperazine derivatives. Herein, we report a six-step synthesis of the benzyl and allyl substituted bicyclic ketones 3a and 3b, which represent interesting building blocks for the synthesis of conformationally restricted receptor ligands. The key steps of the synthesis are the regioselective addition of ethyl acrylate to the piperazine 8, the sodium hexamethyldisilazide-induced Dieckmann cyclization of the diesters 10, and the decarboxylation of the enol esters 11 with dilute HCl. The complete sequence is only successful when a benzyl (10a) or allyl moiety (10b) is attached to N-1, since the tosyl derivative 10f failed to give a Dieckmann cyclization product, and the decarboxylation failed with the acyl derivatives 11c and 11d