Mono-Protected Diamines. N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-α,ω-Alkanediamines from α,ω-Alkanediamines

We wish to report a convenient pathway to N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-α,ω-alkanediamines 2a-e [H2N(CH2)χNHBOC; χ=2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; (75–90% yields)] by treatment of the corresponding α,ω-alkanediamine with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate in dioxane as the solvent. Only small amounts of the bis-substituted N.N′-tert-butoxycarbonyl-α,ω-alkanediamines 3a-e were formed (2–9%) which were easily removed by an aqueous workup. The α,ω-alkane-aza-diamine 4 was also mono-protected (62% yield of 5) by the same methodology.